INEOS, the owners of Manchester United and French side OGC Nice, are reportedly exploring the sale of the Ligue 1 club.
According to The Athletic, New York-based investment bank Lazard has been appointed to oversee the sale, with INEOS seeking a valuation in the region of £213 million.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired Nice in 2019 for approximately £85 million, taking full ownership of the club and pledging to invest over £853 million. However, reports suggest that only £213 million has been invested so far.
There is growing speculation that he is shifting his focus away from Nice to prioritise Manchester United, as he aims to acquire full ownership of the Premier League giants.
Manchester United fans react to INEOS selling Nice news
Manchester United fans have had a mixed reaction to the news. Many are alarmed by the state in which Nice is being sold, seeing it as a potential red flag.
However, others view it as a sign that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is shifting his full focus to United, possibly intending to buy complete ownership of the Red Devils.
One wrote: ‘Wow, he really is pushing for a full purchase.’
Another disagreed, writing: ‘£200m is not buying the Glazers out. Not even enough for rebuilding the squad. So don’t get too excited.’
Another United fan was confused how such a small amount would help him purchase full ownership of Man United: ‘We spend this amount in one summer transfer so how’s this money from a Nice sale enough to secure full ownership of United.’
While some want Sir Jim Ratcliffe to sell his United shares as well, with one writing exactly this: ‘He should sell his United shares too.’
INEOS’s time at Manchester United so far
Ratcliffe purchased a 27.7% stake in Manchester United in February 2024 for approximately £1.25 billion, gaining control over football operations from the Glazer family.
Since then, INEOS has spent over £230 million on transfers, marking a significant investment in reshaping the squad.
Their recruitment has included several significant signings in both the winter and summer windows.
| Player | Position | From | Transfer Fee |
| Joshua Zirkzee | Forward | Bologna | £36.5 million |
| Leny Yoro | Centre-back | Lille | £52.2 million |
| Matthijs de Ligt | Centre-back | Bayern Munich | £38.5 million |
| Noussair Mazraoui | Right-back | Bayern Munich | £12.8 million |
| Manuel Ugarte | Midfielder | Paris Saint-Germain | £42.1 million |
| Patrick Dorgu | Left-back | Lecce | £24 million |
Ratcliffe has mainly focused on streamlining the club’s operations, leading him to make several controversial decisions, including sweeping staff cuts and job redundancies. Ratcliffe even cancelled Man United’s staff Christmas party in order to save cost.
The recent reports of INEOS considering a sale of French side OGC Nice raise further questions about Ratcliffe’s long-term vision.
What the potential sale of Nice ultimately means for United remains to be seen.
