Billionaire Owner Admits Ligue 1 Struggles to “Excite” Him as Potential Saudi Takeover Looms
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly weighing up a sale of French club OGC Nice, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) emerging as potential buyers—a move that could signal his full commitment to reviving the Red Devils.
Shifting Priorities After Mixed Season at United
Since acquiring a 27.7% stake in United earlier this year, Ratcliffe has faced a turbulent debut campaign. The club languishes in 14th place under interim boss Ruben Amorim after sacking Erik ten Hag in November, though a stunning 3-0 Europa League semi-final win over Athletic Bilbao has kept hopes of Champions League qualification alive.
Now, French outlet L’Informé (via the Daily Star) claims Ratcliffe is “gearing up to sell” Nice—a club he’s owned since 2019—to focus resources on United. Saudi Arabia’s PIF, which owns Newcastle United, is reportedly monitoring the situation closely.
“I Don’t Get Excited by Nice” – Ratcliffe’s Candid Admission
The INEOS billionaire has never hidden his lukewarm feelings toward Nice, recently telling The Times: “I don’t particularly like going to see Nice because there are good players, but the level of football isn’t high enough for me to get excited.”
In a revealing aside, he even joked that Nice’s best recent season came “when we weren’t allowed to interfere due to timeshare rules,” adding wryly: “Maybe there’s a lesson there.”
Backing Amorim Amid United’s Struggles
Despite United’s dismal league position, Ratcliffe has publicly supported Amorim, urging critics to show patience with the 39-year-old Portuguese manager: “He’s a young guy in his first Premier League job, working in a foreign language mid-season. Give him a break—I think he’s doing a great job.”
What’s Next?
With Nice potentially offloaded, Ratcliffe could funnel more resources into United’s summer rebuild—especially if Europa League glory secures vital Champions League revenue. For now, all eyes are on whether Saudi Arabia’s deep pockets will formalize their interest in the Ligue 1 outfit.
One thing’s clear: Ratcliffe’s heart—and his toughest project—lies at Old Trafford.
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