INEOS’ commitment to OGC Nice is not threatened by INEOS’ purchase of a 25% share in Manchester United, nor does it make the Ligue 1 club a feeder for the Premier League side, according to L’Équipe.
As far as Nice are concerned, nothing changes. The process to buy Manchester United was a lengthy one, which has allowed for long and deliberated discussions about INEOS’ investment in the Red Devils, at OGC Nice. Whilst publically, the management have not wished to pass comment, with manager Francesco Farioli often shirking the question during press conferences, discussions have taken place behind the scenes.
The discussions have reaped a common stance – nothing changes. OGC Nice’s focus is on not becoming an affiliate club and hence losing its identity, as well as its best players, to Manchester United.
OGC Nice have not been worried by developments in INEOS’ bid to buy Manchester United, especially since the highly ambitious project to challenge Paris Saint-Germain for the title, which was first put on the table when INEOS bought Le Gym back in 2019, was no longer on the table. OGC Nice President Jean-Pierre Rivère confirmed the downgrading of ambitions in the summer, and with that came a decrease in investment.
OGC Nice seeking to become more autonomous
The objective is now to become more autonomous and live off their own means at the Allianz Riviera. A balancing of the budget was therefore on the agenda over the summer, and despite this, OGC Nice are achieving their best results of the INEOS era. Les Aiglons are currently second in Ligue 1.
The question of the permutations of European football remains a prevalent one but as other teams, including Toulouse FC, have shown, solutions can be found in order to allow both OGC Nice and Manchester United to compete in European competition, despite sharing the same owner. Once again, therefore, there is no concern at Nice.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
