A new era may be preparing in Ligue 1, with the arrival of Saudi owners in Nice.
Owner of the OGC Nice since 2019, the British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe seems to turn the page. After six years of mixed management, the boss of INEOS seeks to sell the Riviera club. According to The informeda business bank has been mandated to explore the possibilities of sale, and an unexpected actor seriously looks at the file: Saudi Arabia.
The gym had however aroused many hopes during its acquisition for 100 million euros. At the time, the supporters dreamed of seeing their club compete with the best Ligue 1 teams. But the promise was never really held. Since then, Nice has vegetated between the 5th and 9th place, without ever really crossing a CAP, even if the team directed this season by Franck Haise is still in the race for a qualification in the Champions League.
Despite this possible participation in the C1, Jim Ratcliffe no longer intends to bet big on the Aiglons. The acquisition of 25 % of Manchester United in 2023 definitively relegated the OGCN to the background. “I don’t particularly like going to see nice because there are good players, but the level of football is not high enough for me to enthuse myself”he confided last March, even adding that the club had been “So much better without [son] Interference “.
The pif points the tip of his nose
Today, the file is taking a CAP. The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), already owner of Newcastle in the Premier League, “Look seriously” The Nice case. This first interest does not equivalent to a firm offer, but marks a strong signal. After persistent redemption rumors around OM, the PIF could finally choose the Côte d’Azur to put its suitcases in Ligue 1.
The future of the OGC Nice could therefore be written under Saudi pavilion. It remains to be seen whether this track will materialize, and if it can breathe new life into a club in search of stability and ambition.
