Jim Ratcliffe's Impact on OGC Nice Highlighted Amid Manchester United Takeover

Jim Ratcliffe's Impact on OGC Nice Highlighted Amid Manchester United Takeover

Ero Samson
updated at October 17, 2023 at 10:17 AM
In this article:
English Premier League logo
ENG Premier League
England
French Ligue 1 logo
FRA Ligue 1
France
  • Sir Jimmy Ratcliffe is set to take over affairs at Manchester United
  • The British Billionaire doubles as the owner of Ligue 1 club OGC Nice
  • A football transfer expert has highlighted how Nice has faired under the ownership of Ratcliffe

Manchester United's new minority shareholder, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is poised to assume a significant role in the club's football operations at Old Trafford, and his track record at the French club OGC Nice may offer insights into how his influence could shape the Premier League club's future.

The billionaire and Ineos founder is reportedly on the verge of taking control of football matters at Old Trafford, with an official announcement expected this week, pending the ratification of his £1.3 billion bid for a 25% stake in the Premier League giants.

Manchester United, Premier League, Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is poised to takeover affairs at Premier League club Manchester United. Image: Kristian Skeie.
Source: Getty Images

While fans at Man United are excited about the move, the words of a French football transfer expert about how Ratcliff managed Ligue 1 club OGC Nice could be a worrying sign that the fans could keep a close watch on.

OGC Nice's under Ratcliffe

Since Ratcliffe's £88 million takeover of OGC Nice in 2019, the Ligue 1 club has seemingly experienced relative stagnation. The club's trajectory has shifted from being title contenders to merely securing their place in the league.

Football expert Jonathan Johnson, in a conversation with Sky Sports, underscored the lack of significant progress under the management of the British billionaire, stating,

"It's been a mixed bag with Ratcliffe and Nice so far. They have had their moments, but there has been no tangible success. The project hasn't quite lived up to expectations."

These concerns were succinctly echoed by the club captain, Dante Bonfim, who expressed his frustration with Ratcliffe's approach in May, as reported by TalkSport, admonishing the 70-year-old to "work more and speak less."

For Manchester United fans with high hopes for Ratcliffe's involvement in the club's sporting affairs, the reservations raised by the transfer expert serve as a cautionary note, urging the club supporters to manage their expectation with the British Billionaire.

West Ham want Harry Maguire

Earlier, Sports Brief reported West Ham United are reportedly plotting a January transfer move for out-of-favour Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire.

Maguire has significantly fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford, with Erik ten Hag preferring the partnership of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez at the heart of his defence.

Authors
Ero Samson photo
Ero Samson
Samson Ero is a sports journalist with a track record of over five years in the Nigerian media industry. He graduated from Nigerian Institute of Journalism (2021-2023).
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