It’s (finally) official, after validation from the English Federation and the Premier League, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is co-owner of Manchester United. He owns exactly 27.7%, a percentage that could increase in the years to come. For the British businessman, it is the culmination of a long quest, and the start of new problems.
Indeed, through his company INEOS, he has already invested heavily in professional football. In France, it was OGC Nice which benefited from the financial contribution of Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Bought in 2019 by INEOS, the Riviera club has patiently built its project, and aspires to qualify for the Champions League this season, given its current positioning in Ligue 1 (3rd).
But now, Ratcliffe’s new investment in Manchester United raises the problem of co-ownership, rejected by UEFA rules, even if president Aleksander Ceferin has suggested that the rules could be relaxed. What to do if Nice and Manchester United find themselves qualified for the Champions League together?
MU privileged, decline of INEOS in Nice?
According to information from Daily Telegraph, the choice is known, INEOS would make sure to “withdraw” from the control of OGC Nice. Not that he would sell his shares, but that he would abandon the management of the club as it is today. It is already entrusted to Jean-Pierre Rivere and Fabrice Bocquet with Florent Ghisolfi as sports director. But the implication would be even less, so as not to hamper Manchester United, clearly prioritized by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The latter plans to meet UEFA leaders between now and the end of the season to clarify things, and see what can be done to not prevent one of the two clubs from participating in the Champions League. in case of qualification. As a reminder, the current rules say that if two clubs with the same owner cannot participate in the same competition. The best ranked of the two in the championship would then benefit from the ticket for the C1.
