Club Sale | It’s done!

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devilish

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Was he drinking? It's not in the initial statement, which sounds far more sensible.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS said: ‘We are absolutely delighted about acquiring OGC Nice. It has been quite a long journey getting here, but it is unique, and we were determined to complete the purchase of the club. We have looked at a lot of clubs in the manner we look at businesses in INEOS - for value and potential - and Nice fulfils that criteria. With some sensible, measured investment, we want to establish OGC Nice as a team that competes in European club competition on a regular basis. And importantly, sustain it.”

“OGC Nice has a great history and tradition, with a passionate fan-base, whom will play an important role in our journey. The Allianz Riviera stadium is superb and the new training centre, which is integral for any successful team, is equally as impressive. It’s tough to improve on the location on the Med and over the last 20 years we have established roots in this beautiful area.”

Sir Jim added: “We made some mistakes at Lausanne, but we are fast learners, these have been rectified and we are already seeing the benefits. Clubs need to be successful off the pitch, as well as on it, and OGC Nice will be no different, as we look to take the club from strength to strength in all aspects over the coming years.”

“Patience is also important and the work we do here will be built on solid foundations. We have a plan in place and we will follow it. I am adamant we will not be the dumb money,”
said Ratcliffe.


With some sensible, measured investment, we want to establish OGC Nice as a team that competes in European club competition on a regular basis. And importantly, sustain it.”

Under ineos Nice has yet to qualify for the CL
 

JPRouve

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Was he drinking? It's not in the initial statement, which sounds far more sensible.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS said: ‘We are absolutely delighted about acquiring OGC Nice. It has been quite a long journey getting here, but it is unique, and we were determined to complete the purchase of the club. We have looked at a lot of clubs in the manner we look at businesses in INEOS - for value and potential - and Nice fulfils that criteria. With some sensible, measured investment, we want to establish OGC Nice as a team that competes in European club competition on a regular basis. And importantly, sustain it.”

“OGC Nice has a great history and tradition, with a passionate fan-base, whom will play an important role in our journey. The Allianz Riviera stadium is superb and the new training centre, which is integral for any successful team, is equally as impressive. It’s tough to improve on the location on the Med and over the last 20 years we have established roots in this beautiful area.”

Sir Jim added: “We made some mistakes at Lausanne, but we are fast learners, these have been rectified and we are already seeing the benefits. Clubs need to be successful off the pitch, as well as on it, and OGC Nice will be no different, as we look to take the club from strength to strength in all aspects over the coming years.”

“Patience is also important and the work we do here will be built on solid foundations. We have a plan in place and we will follow it. I am adamant we will not be the dumb money,”
said Ratcliffe.
In 2019
«Notre position s'est développée depuis l'été et nous concentrons désormais nos efforts sur Nice. Nous avons revu nos ambitions à la hausse pour que le club devienne une équipe de premier plan en France afin de concurrencer le PSG. (...) Cela représenterait une bien meilleure valeur pour notre investissement que d'acheter l'un des meilleurs clubs de Premier League
"Nous pensons que le championnat français est sous-évalué. Le PSG est très important pour la Ligue 1. Il y a de très grands clubs comme l’OL et l’OM, ce seront des concurrents pour nous"
We think that the french league is underrated. PSG is very important for Ligue 1. There are very big clusb like OL and OM, we will compete with them.

Now one could easily and maybe rightfully interpret that as him excluding PSG but other comments around Nice alluded to PSG being the target. In 2022 that's what he said:

«Notre position s'est développée depuis l'été et nous concentrons désormais nos efforts sur Nice. Nous avons revu nos ambitions à la hausse pour que le club devienne une équipe de premier plan en France afin de concurrencer le PSG. (...) Cela représenterait une bien meilleure valeur pour notre investissement que d'acheter l'un des meilleurs clubs de Premier League

Our(Ineos) position improved since summer and we are totally focused on Nice. We increased our ambition so that the club can compete with PSG... It represents a far better investment than purchase one of the best club in the Premier League.
 

Dan_F

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With some sensible, measured investment, we want to establish OGC Nice as a team that competes in European club competition on a regular basis. And importantly, sustain it.”

Under ineos Nice has yet to qualify for the CL
Again, no where in that paragraph does it mention champions league. These arguments just go round in circles because people constantly argue in bad faith. It’s right there in your text and you’re still getting it wrong.
 

croadyman

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but its not about taking the chains off, its not like if the Glazers f off tomorrow it will be Rosey. The damage is done, the debt will remain, the fact the clubs stadium needs rebuilding, the training ground revamping. Plus we are still pushing up against FFP regulations because our spending has been insane and despite the insane spending the club still needs more investment and there are still serious questions about the recruitment process.

You're an investor looking at this situation, it's a dumpster fire! Im genuinely shocked we even have two interested parties.
The debt only remains if Ratcliffe buys us,however you make very good points in regards to everything else being a right mess
 

MancunianAngels

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City have won 5 of the last 6 titles (including this one, because let's be real) and are on course for a treble. Newcastle has barely started their "project" and already muscled their way into top4. United's revenue won't just increase out of nowhere, contrary to what a lot of people believe - financial growth is correlated to success on the pitch, a scenario like the one you described; in which half of the league is state backed, and if United isn't, is the end of the club (at least as we know it).
Yes they have. However, that seemingly will come with a massive asterisk attached to it. If only a few of those 100+ charges comes to fruition, it will be tainted. They'll see they don't care but deep down, they'll know it's fake.

Regarding revenue. Old Trafford is still ridiculously busy on non matchdays every week. For sponsors, the club is still attractive. Yes, that's still related to performance on the week but there's no reason why we can't be competitive without a state backer. It might require a proper strategy but is still doable for clubs with modest revenue never mind Manchester United.

Final point. End of United as we know it? More absurd hyperbole. So we don't win the league every year? So what?
 

Castia

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Imagine being a Nice fan

You know the league is shite and that you have a multi billionaire owner yet are still fighting for a top half finish

Poor bastards
 

LawCharltonBest

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Imagine being a Nice fan

You know the league is shite and that you have a multi billionaire owner yet are still fighting for a top half finish

Poor bastards
Couldn't agree more

My dog, who was openly homosexual, once caught sight of himself in a mirror and tried to hump his reflection. He got so frustrated when he couldn't get round the back of himself, bless him.
 

We need an rvn

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Imagine being a Nice fan

You know the league is shite and that you have a multi billionaire owner yet are still fighting for a top half finish

Poor bastards
That’s my concern with this fella to be honest. Worth billions, yet the club he’s owned has gotten worse and he’s hardly invested.

with him not really mentioning much(if anything) about clearing debt, investing in infrastructure I just fear we’ll be no better under SJR.

Qatar for me asI just can’t see is changing much under Jimmy
 

christinaa

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Couldn't agree more

My dog, who was openly homosexual, once caught sight of himself in a mirror and tried to hump his reflection. He got so frustrated when he couldn't get round the back of himself, bless him.
:lol:
 

devilish

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Again, no where in that paragraph does it mention champions league. These arguments just go round in circles because people constantly argue in bad faith. It’s right there in your text and you’re still getting it wrong.
Fair enough. Here Is a good article regarding ineos tenure at Nice.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/20/manchester-united-fans-nice-jim-ratcliffe-psg

In the six years before Ratcliffe bought Nice for €100m, the club finished in the top four of Ligue 1 three times. How many times had ineos nice made it to top 4?

BTW this is what they said about Lausanne

David Thompson, CEO INEOS Football SA, says, “INEOS is excited about taking this major step into top-class football as part of our wider commitment to encourage youth sport in Lausanne and Canton Vaud. We hope and expect that this new investment in the team will take Football Club Lausanne-Sport forward to further success, and we see no reason why this could not mean playing in Europe.”

Where are lausanne at the moment? Are they playing in Europe?
 

Rightnr

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Couldn't agree more

My dog, who was openly homosexual, once caught sight of himself in a mirror and tried to hump his reflection. He got so frustrated when he couldn't get round the back of himself, bless him.
What :lol:
 

Woziak

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What makes you so sure that Jassim will come back with a repackaged World record bid when everything pointed to this literally being a take it or leave it one
Didn’t he say the same thing on the third bid, plus what he’s offered is not a world record bid as they originally boasted, that’s if the media leaks of actual bids values are to be believed?

It’s even more brinkmanship right now, I’ve heard so much disinformation and guesswork no one knows however Avram meeting a high up Delegate or SJ brother on Sunday or Monday at Al Thani Hotel is a clear indication that Qatari’s are trying to force the issue with a cash out now option, the £6bn valuation by SJR as I’ve explained is potentially a red herring. It’s obvious the Glazers want £5.3-5.5bn as a full valuation giving them 69% of £3.75bn or $4.7bn they want &5.5bn without the debt and future investment included that’s the magical number.
 

devilish

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Imagine being a Nice fan

You know the league is shite and that you have a multi billionaire owner yet are still fighting for a top half finish

Poor bastards
Who cares about trophies when you have the moral high ground?
 

hobbers

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That's not the same as a leveraged buyout. Please don't spread financial illiteracy like that, this thread is bad enough as it is.
No but Ratcliffe's deal is allowing the ones who did a leveraged buyout to stay on and the debt they placed on the club to remain, while taking out further loans and even if the collateral might not be on United, it doesn't mean the club won't still feel the effects of them down the line.
 

glazed

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As it's imminent can we have a poll - "Who do you think will control Manchester United next season?"
 

Woziak

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Thank you for properly breaking it down into something that resembles sense, so it basically all comes down to whether all the parasites leave now with a massive lump each or the two main parasites stay on in hope they’ll get more in 3-4 years.
The fact that Avram was seen at Al Thani Hotel makes me believe that this is stage one of a two part process, they now have two similar offers which offer different benefits, they will go back one more time and ask for a little bit more money and who ever blinks first will lose !
 

Ted Lasso

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That's not the same as a leveraged buyout. Please don't spread financial illiteracy like that, this thread is bad enough as it is.
It does fall fall into the same category of "scummy underhanded billionare's business transaction".

The very same kind of business practices that have already wrecked the foundation of the global economy and are going to send the US into a deep and devastating recession.

Please stop gaslighting; this thread is bad enough as it is.
 

MackRobinson

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Well it depends really. If the Qatari’s cheat the way City owners do and they defend it then they will be hypocrites. If they clear the debt and allow the club to operate on their own finances then it’s a different matter.

United fans wanted the debt cleared. Who did they think was going to do that? They wanted competent ownership. What is it about Ratcliffe’s track record that suggest he is competent?

Other than wanting to laugh at people, what is it you want? Because I tell you something, somebody coming in and clearing the debt, being competent and not with an ulterior motive is truly fantasyland.
City were slated before the cheating was known, so that's a moot point.

What about Jassim's track record suggests he's competent?

I want to laugh at the hypocrites not "people". Let's just say I believe going the route of City/PSG cheapens any future success substantially.

There is always an ulterior motive.
 

Bosws87

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City were slated before the cheating was known, so that's a moot point.

What about Jassim's track record suggests he's competent?

I want to laugh at the hypocrites not "people". Let's just say I believe going the route of City/PSG cheapens any future success substantially.

There is always an ulterior motive.
Of course there is sportwashing just like SJR having your entity attached to such a historic big club.

City were slated because they cheated if they had stayed within FFP legitimately they wouldn’t have 4 prems In 5 years and no one would be moaning.
 

Dan_F

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Fair enough. Here Is a good article regarding ineos tenure at Nice.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/20/manchester-united-fans-nice-jim-ratcliffe-psg

In the six years before Ratcliffe bought Nice for €100m, the club finished in the top four of Ligue 1 three times. How many times had ineos nice made it to top 4?

BTW this is what they said about Lausanne

David Thompson, CEO INEOS Football SA, says, “INEOS is excited about taking this major step into top-class football as part of our wider commitment to encourage youth sport in Lausanne and Canton Vaud. We hope and expect that this new investment in the team will take Football Club Lausanne-Sport forward to further success, and we see no reason why this could not mean playing in Europe.”

Where are lausanne at the moment? Are they playing in Europe?
Yeah I think we’ve done this argument to death. I don’t know enough about Nice to understand why they had more success under previous ownership. Clearly Puel and Favre outperformed Nice’s usual positioning, but the slide ultimately started prior to Ineos taking over. They didn’t take over a side that had finished in the top four, they took over a side that had finished 8th and 7th.

I don’t really see any need in counting finishes from 2013 to try and discredit Ineos. In that case you can see the 13th, 15th, 17th finishes and show that Jim has been far more consistent.

Lausanne are a yo-yo club. They’ve spent more time outside the top division in the last 20 years than in it. It’s likely that they underestimated the league, as they are not a big player in the slightest.

Of course it’s concerning though. I’d be far more comfortable with the owners of Brighton or Brentford taking over, but it’s not an option. And for me, most options are more palatable than state funding. Even if it means we aren’t going to compete with Man City, which I think we can under Ineos.
 

TsuWave

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Yes they have. However, that seemingly will come with a massive asterisk attached to it. If only a few of those 100+ charges comes to fruition, it will be tainted. They'll see they don't care but deep down, they'll know it's fake.

Regarding revenue. Old Trafford is still ridiculously busy on non matchdays every week. For sponsors, the club is still attractive. Yes, that's still related to performance on the week but there's no reason why we can't be competitive without a state backer. It might require a proper strategy but is still doable for clubs with modest revenue never mind Manchester United.

Final point. End of United as we know it? More absurd hyperbole. So we don't win the league every year? So what?
That's what it comes down to for a lot of people; insecurity and/or fear of "being like those other guys" - those other guys being City/Newcastle - but being owned by Qatar doesn't auto translate into United having/needing to cook the books. Also, we don't even know if any substantial action will be taken against City, and even if it is, I very much doubt the'll revoke/null their trophies - all these "tainted/asterisk" talking points will be nothing but light jabs to throw at the pub when their fans are gloating about how successful they are or after United has been handed another 6 goals trashing at their hands. I guarantee it won't amount to anything more than "copium".

Financial growth without on pitch success is extremely limited - and it's not "related to performance on the week" - if United's drought of major trophies goes on for much longer the value/numbers on those sponsorships will take a huge hit. League cup wins can only assuage that for so long. United's appeal has largely been built on its sporting success and being a club capable of producing some incredible moments - United hasn't done that consistently in a while now - for people like you and me it likely won't matter and we'll be here regardless, but lack of success will limit the reach of the club moving forward.

It's not hyperbole to say that in the scenario you've described - in which half the league is state backed and United isn't - will signal the end of United as we know it. I mean, prior to 2013 and under Ferguson, IIRC, we'd never finished outside of the top3 in the premier league. In the short span of a decade our expectations have been adjusted to "top 4 is a good season". Adidas has a non CL participation clause in their deal with United IIRC. If half the league becomes state backed, what do you think will happen? Yes, the club will still exist but it will likely be cemented as a mid table club in that scenario, which is not the United I know/grew up with.
 

hobbers

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The Glazers and Jassim are in direct but protracted negotiations now. Might as well just call them exclusive.
 

Cloud7

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One of the most annoying things about this process (From a fan POV) seems to be that there's no actual end to the bidding/encouraged bidding and it seems like this could realistically go on for quite a while yet without any clear defined winner
 
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