.png)
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is considering offloading his ownership of Ligue 1 club OGC Nice, as interest from Saudi investors begins to gather momentum, according to French outlet L’Informe.
Ratcliffe, the founder of INEOS, acquired Nice in 2019 for approximately £89 million. The potential sale comes just over a year after he became a minority shareholder at Manchester United, purchasing a 27.7% stake in February 2024. As part of that deal, Ratcliffe took over football operations at the Premier League club.
His involvement at United, however, has been met with mixed fortunes. After a disappointing domestic campaign that saw Erik ten Hag dismissed and United languishing in 14th place, the club’s European ambitions remain intact following a commanding 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals. Winning the competition would offer a route into next season’s Champions League—a critical financial lifeline given their league standing.
Now, reports suggest Ratcliffe is looking to streamline his football investments to concentrate on the Old Trafford project. Sources claim that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns Newcastle United, is monitoring the situation and may prepare a formal offer for Nice.
Despite steady performances under manager Franck Haise this season, with the team currently just outside Ligue 1’s top three, Nice has failed to consistently challenge at the top since Ratcliffe’s takeover. The INEOS boss has previously voiced a lack of enthusiasm for the French side, openly stating his disinterest in attending matches due to what he perceives as a lower standard of football.
“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,” Ratcliffe said in an earlier interview. “Nice’s best season was the one we weren’t allowed to get involved in due to timeshare rules—they were better without our interference.”
While a potential sale of Nice would raise capital, insiders note that it would fall well short of the funds required for a full INEOS buyout of Manchester United. Nevertheless, Ratcliffe’s focus appears firmly fixed on transforming the Red Devils, with bold initiatives already underway, including plans for a £2 billion stadium redevelopment and significant operational restructuring.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @ogcnice
