OGC Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivère: “Today, the very ambitious project is no longer on the agenda.”

OGC Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivère has confirmed that the club’s objectives have been revised downwards but insists that INEOS’ attempts to purchase Manchester United are not the reason for this revision. 

Following INEOS’ attempts to purchase Chelsea FC in the Spring of 2022, Sir Jim Ratcliffe reiterated Les Aiglons’ ambition to rival Paris Saint-Germain. However, the Riviera club not only failed to rival PSG last season, they didn’t even threaten the European places, ultimately finishing ninth in Ligue 1, nine points behind fifth-placed Lille OSC. 

That ninth-place finish came despite considerable investment last summer, which hasn’t been replicated this pre-season. Le Gym were the only club not to have signed a player until recent days. Nice’s transfer window has burst into life thanks to the signings of Jérémie Boga and Morgan Sanson. 

Speaking at Boga’s and Sanson’s unveiling on Friday, sporting director Florent Ghisolfi said that whilst Nice are hoping to recruit two or three more players this summer, the budget has seen a “slight reduction.” The former RC Lens sporting director added, “But we can work intelligently.”

Ghisolfi added that Nice’s objective is to reach Europe. Club president Rivère echoed the words of his sporting director, acknowledging a change in the ambition of the project. “If INEOS hadn’t been here, OGC Nice would have been in trouble. Today, the very ambitious project is no longer on the agenda. It isn’t linked to the potential purchase of Manchester United. The ambition is no longer to challenge PSG; the ambition is Europe,” said Rivère in a press conference, transcribed by France Bleu Azur.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle