Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe had hoped to complete the sale of French club Nice, but although negotiations were progressing, the takeover plan has now collapsed.
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wanted to sell Nice (Image: (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images))
Sir Jim Ratcliffe had a memorable day on Friday as he watched two potential deals collapse.
The co-owner of Manchester United is also the largest shareholder of French club Nice. He was hopeful that the deal would come to an end as the acquisition talks progressed.
It is understood that an American consortium were seriously interested in buying the club, which survived relegation on the final day of the season.
Ratcliffe and INEOS had set a tight deadline of June 15 to complete the sale, but Nice Matin newspaper via Get Football News France report that the deal has fallen through completely.
Investors went so far as to visit Nice’s training ground, but were unable to secure the necessary financial security and stability for the sport at the last minute.
Ratcliffe bought the club through INEOS in 2019, but has since made a significant exit at the end of 2023, when he invested in Manchester United.
The petrochemical industry tycoon goes so far as to say he does not enjoy the level of football at the club, with fans increasingly frustrated with their direction.
In an interview with The Times last year, Ratcliffe admitted: “I don’t really like going to watch Nice because there are some good players but the level of football is not high enough for me to get excited about.”
Ratcliffe has already lowered his asking price to encourage a deal, but it looks increasingly likely that Nice will remain under INEOS’ control at the start of the 2026/27 season.
Liam Rosenior sacked as Chelsea manager but targeted by Nice (Image: Getty Images)
And after a disastrous season that saw them almost eliminated from Ligue 1, changes need to occur on the pitch as well.
Former Leicester and Southampton manager Claude Puel was interim manager last season but is unlikely to be hired permanently.
L’Equipe reports that Nice have contacted Liam Rosenior to bring him back into French football after a difficult spell at Chelsea.
Rosenior rose to fame in his country as Strasbourg manager before joining Chelsea in early 2026. However, he only lasted four months at Stamford Bridge and is now looking to step away from the club completely.
Matheus Fernandes has been linked with Manchester United (Image: Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)
In further positive news for Ratcliffe, United’s summer transfer window plans remain on track with an agreement reached to sign Ederson from Atalanta.
The Brazilian will join Michael Carrick’s side after the World Cup and Ratcliffe is ready to dip into his pockets again as competition for Matheus Fernandes intensifies.
United have identified the West Ham star as one of their priority targets, with Arsenal balking at his £80m valuation, paving the way for them to sign him.
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