Earlier this week, The Independent reported that INEOS were looking to sell OGC Nice, five years after purchasing the French club and just months after buying a considerable stake in Premier League side Manchester United. Le Gym’s president, Jean-Pierre Rivère has now responded to the report.
Whilst the worrying financial landscape in French football may in part explain INEOS’ reported desire to sell the club, there is also the issue of the implications of multi-club ownership in European competition. Both Nice and Manchester United qualified for next season’s UEFA Europa League. Whilst UEFA are expected to allow both teams to compete in the competition, despite sharing the same owner, there is a crackdown on the horizon.
Source confirms INEOS’ intention to sell Nice
However, speaking to L’Équipe, Les Aiglons’ president, Jean-Pierre Rivère, has denied that the club is for sale. “The owner’s objective is absolutely not to sell the club. If the club was for sale, I’d tell you willingly because it’s not murder or shameful to put a club up for sale. But, I’ll repeat myself, that isn’t the case. But, if one day it does go up for sale, there wouldn’t be any problem because [the club] is healthy and structured,” he said.
However, in the same report, L’Équipe added that a source close to INEOS had confirmed that the owners were looking to part ways with Nice, confirming The Independent’s initial report.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
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