INEOS ready to sell Nice, report says

Manchester United’s new INEOS sporting ownership group has decided to sell its Ligue 1 club, Nice, as reported by The Independent.

The group was always going to be in need of a solution after acquisition of the Premier League club. With both United and Nice having qualified for next season’s Europa League, INEOS is expected to find a short-term solution to placate UEFA for the 2024/25 season.

The group, however, has been warned by the European governing body that its multi-club football ownership rules are about to become more stringent by the time the 2025/26 season rolls around.

INEOS also owns Swiss club Lausanne-Sport, whose ownership can also be expected to at least be modified in the years to come.

For next season, the group is expected to follow the “blind trust” route to navigate around UEFA’s current multi-club ownership rule.

Selling Nice an inevitability, but don’t rule out a multi-club model

Sir Jim Ratcliffe had been looking for an investment into the Premier League club for a while. He was in for Chelsea when Roman Abramovich’s departure was confirmed, but ultimately found even more gold with his shot at running “boyhood” club Man United.

INEOS may need to sell its other European assets for the time being, but this by no means indicate an end to its multi-club aspirations.

And there is no doubt these aspirations exist. After all, everyone else is in on it. It is extremely profitable, and when the new, more stringent UEFA rules come in, more intricate loopholes will also follow.

More Manchester United News-

• Keep or sell: The Marcus Rashford conundrum facing Manchester United
• “It’s new to me” – Manchester United veteran opens up on a tough season after impressive International display
• Transfer report: Analysing the centre-back targets on Manchester United radar

INEOS can also be expected to make some investments in other continents while the situation in Europe cools down.