Daniel Riolo welcomed this Thursday the arrival of the Arnault family and the Red Bull company at Paris FC. During his appearance on the set of the show Apolline Morning on RMC, the editorialist also asked for patience for this ambitious project and sees it as good news for the Paris town hall in its conflict with Paris Saint-Germain around the Parc des Princes.
The biggest fortune in France and third in the world, the Arnault family will make a sensational entry into French football with the takeover of Paris FC. Associated with the Red Bull firm and its know-how in the field, the future owner of the second club in the capital sees things big and could become a real competitor for PSG in the years to come. Morning guest Apolline Morning this Thursday on RMC, Daniel Riolo gave his feelings on the arrival of the billionaire at the PFC.
“They are still leaders of Ligue 2 so that means that, they who have been hoping to move up for years, it will give them a boost to keep this first place”, immediately launched the editorialist of l’After Foot. “I imagine that this winter, or rather I am sure, two or three players will come to strengthen the squad to complete the climb to Ligue 1. And after that it will be the field of possibilities, especially the promises… because in football as in politics we start above all with promises In the current context where French football is not doing very well because it is almost invisible in terms of DAZN subscribers… one of the steps in the months. What’s coming is the collapse of DAZN and we don’t really know where French football will be at that time. Hearing that a billionaire is coming to take over a club can bring some enthusiasm back to football fans. In France.”
The bias: The PFC bought by the Arnault family – 10/10
“Perhaps give a little bit of life back to Ligue 1”
Seduced, on paper, and rather optimistic for Paris FC, Daniel Riolo does not want to get excited. According to him, we will have to be patient before seeing the PFC become a giant of Ligue 1. If the Arnault family seems willing to invest, not sure that they will go crazy by dropping several hundred million euros in their first mercati.
“It’s a new adventure and we say to ourselves that he will build a great team, a competitor to PSG and that it will perhaps bring a little bit of life back to Ligue 1. Obviously that’s good news. But that’s where you also have to calm your excitement, because it’s not going to go very quickly. They’re not going to arrive right away and take out the checkbook,” Daniel Riolo further analyzed on the air. RMC.
Before continuing: “The club is not attracting crowds for the moment so we will have to create an audience, we will have to create a team. And they are in no hurry because they want to be part of the long term […] There is the excitement of the arrival of the Arnault family, the flagship of French industry, but we also have to be patient because they themselves are sending messages in this direction. We’re excited but they calm that excitement down.”
The PFC can attract the disappointed PSG
Unlike other major European capitals, Paris has not managed to have two clubs in the first division on a lasting basis. With the arrival of new owners at the PFC, Daniel Riolo would see certain supporters disappointed by the PSG version QSI change allegiance.
“It has always been an anomaly that in such a large population area, compared to the rest of the world, there is only one club. Now, each time we lamented this state of affairs. But I responded that if there wasn’t the culture…It’s all well and good to have a population base but it’s almost exclusively Parisian, PSG”, further explained the RMC Sport editorialist during his appearance on the morning show Apolline Morning on RMC. “Historically, there are also a lot of OM supporters in the Paris region. So go and create a club even if it exists there, with supporters who will come and a public who will be interested. It’s a business of seduction which is not easy.”
And Daniel Riolo clarified on the arrival of PSG fans at the PFC: “It is obvious that it is in the back of their minds to seduce the disappointed PSG. But you cannot assume it publicly, because otherwise what is the message sent if your business of seduction is to seduce disappointed people. But, yes, obviously.
“Perhaps Nasser al-Khelaïfi will change his mind”
In addition to PSG supporters who could decide to support Paris FC, the arrival of the Arnault family and Red Bull at the current leader of Ligue 2 could also have an impact on exchanges between the Paris town hall and the management of the PSG around the Parc des Princes. For Daniel Riolo, it is even an additional asset in the hands of the municipality.
“The whole political side is going to be extremely interesting. When Anne Hidalgo heard the news, I don’t know if she opened the champagne but she wasn’t far away in any case,” Daniel Riolo slipped into a smile this Thursday during of his appearance on the RMC morning show. “Because at the moment when she is in a standoff with the president of Paris Saint-Germain who tells her: ‘if you don’t give me what I want, I’m leaving’. And she tells herself that PSG must not leave the Parc des Princes But there, she will be able to say that if PSG leaves, she will have a new friend ready to take over the Parc des Princes. Maybe Nasser al-Khelaïfi. will suddenly change your mind.”
Jean-Guy Lebreton with RMC
