Nice were unable to reach an agreement after launching a pursuit to sign two Manchester United players on loan during the summer.
Ineos has yet to foster a collaboration between Manchester United and Nice in the transfer market, unlike Blue Co, a consortium led by American businessman Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, who are responsible for running Chelsea and Strasbourg.
Chelsea sent three players on loan to Strasbourg this season, while Mathis Amaougou and Ben Chilwell completed permanent moves to the club because their time at Stamford Bridge was over.
However, Ineos have taken advantage of their multi-club model when United sent young forward Enzo Kana-Biyik on loan to Swiss side Lausanne-Sport.
Nice has yet to benefit from its connection to United, despite their sporting director, Florian Maurice, previously admitting a desire for that to be the case.
“I spoke with Manchester United during the transfer window in order to try and find solutions,” Maurice told L’Equipe. “We envisaged things, like asking them to sign a player and then loaning us back, but their priority was to sell.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe during the Manchester derby
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
Man Utd duo offered exit route to Nice
In 2024, UEFA blocked United from signing a player from Ligue 1 side Nice due to pre-existing rules on multi-club ownership.
While moving players between two clubs that share the same owners is not forbidden, Nice and United had both qualified for last year’s Europa League competition, which raised complications around the clubs conducting business with each other in the transfer market.
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The player in question was reportedly Jean-Clair Todibo, who went on to join West Ham before enduring a difficult first season in the Premier League.
With United failing to qualify for Europe this season, there were no rules preventing deals from happening with Nice during the summer.
According to Ici Azur, Ineos offered Nice a chance to sign Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund on loan.
Mainoo wanted to leave United on loan in search of regular football after being overlooked as a starter in Amorim’s midfield.
Meanwhile, Hojlund slipped down the pecking order following the arrival of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.
While Mainoo remained at Old Trafford, Hojlund joined Napoli on loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season.
The French podcast claims United offered a different youth player, but Nice decided he was not of the required level to play for the club.
Perfect start for Rasmus Hojlund in Serie A
After scoring against Fiorentina, Hojlund has got off to a flying start at Napoli.
Hojlund has also quickly adapted to life under Antonio Conte, having already played in Serie A during his time at Atalanta.
Hojlund was signed after Napoli suffered an injury blow that leaves them without Romelu Lukaku for a couple of months.
The only way Hojlund keeps his place in the team is by continuing to score goals, which he was unable to do at Old Trafford.