Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly open to a sale amid growing interest from Saudi investors.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly preparing to offload his stake in French club OGC Nice as his attention increasingly turns to Manchester United. The head of INEOS, who acquired Nice in 2019 for around £89 million, is believed to be considering offers, including interest from Saudi Arabia.

Despite his investment, Nice has not managed to secure any major trophies under his ownership, and recent reports suggest he may be ready to move on. The team is currently in fifth place in Ligue 1, but that has not been enough to satisfy the British businessman. French outlet L’Informe has indicated that Ratcliffe is open to stepping away, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund—already a stakeholder in Newcastle United—has reportedly taken notice and may be preparing a bid.

Ratcliffe, who also owns a significant share of Manchester United, has not hidden his indifference towards Nice’s level of play. He once confessed that while the team has quality players, the overall football standard failed to excite him. Ironically, he admitted that the club’s most successful season occurred during a period when INEOS wasn’t actively involved, hinting that less interference might have been beneficial.

In 2023, Ratcliffe made headlines by purchasing nearly 28% of Manchester United for a massive £1.3 billion. Since gaining control of the football operations at Old Trafford, several of his decisions have sparked fan outrage. These include dismissing club legend Sir Alex Ferguson from an ambassadorial role and eliminating discounted ticket rates for children and concessions, prompting protests.

His managerial decisions have also drawn criticism. The team has struggled in the league—currently sitting in 14th place after its poorest performance in half a century. One of his biggest moves was the delayed dismissal of Erik ten Hag, replaced by Ruben Amorim. So far, the transition has been rocky.

Despite the backlash, Ratcliffe has urged fans to be patient with Amorim. He emphasized the manager’s challenges—adjusting to the Premier League mid-season and managing in a second language—and called for understanding. Ratcliffe insisted criticism should be directed at him instead, expressing confidence in Amorim’s abilities and work ethic.