{"id":211217,"date":"2025-06-24T19:49:10","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T19:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/211217\/"},"modified":"2025-06-24T19:49:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T19:49:10","slug":"ineos-owned-club-strike-deal-with-man-city-for-transfer-that-could-leave-man-utd-fans-wondering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/211217\/","title":{"rendered":"Ineos-owned club strike deal with Man City for transfer that could leave Man Utd fans wondering"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Manchester United thought they were walking into this transfer window with a big advantage due to Ineos but Man City have been the first to benefit. <\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s ethically debatable, but the multi-ownership mechanism is the new reality for football clubs, so either one gets on with it or gets left behind.<\/p>\n

Man Utd<\/a> finally got on with it when Ineos came in, with their ownership portfolio of OGC Nice in France and FC Lausanne providing exciting potential. <\/p>\n

It was materialising too, with Sekou Kone linked to Lausanne<\/a> for a loan move, but in a deal that will leave Man Utd fans<\/a> wondering, Man City have been the first to benefit. <\/p>\n

\"IneosPhoto by Jean Catuffe\/Getty ImagesMan City strike deal with OGC Nice<\/p>\n

With all due respect to FC Lausanne Sport, who play in the top tier of Swiss football alongside giants like FC Basel, the real goldmine for United lay in France. <\/p>\n

The footballing world has seen how Chelsea have effectively used Strasbourg as a glorified youth academy to farm young talents in Ligue 1. <\/p>\n

While doing it to that extent and completely stripping off a club\u2019s original identity is in poor taste, Ineos<\/a> seem to be going to the other extreme with OGC Nice and Man Utd. <\/p>\n

In a deal that will leave United fans wondering what could have been, Nice have struck an agreement with Man City to sign Juma Bah on loan for the season. <\/p>\n

\n

\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udd34\u26ab\ufe0f Juma Bah from Manchester City to OGC Nice, here we go! Verbal agreement done for the defender to join the club on loan.<\/p>\n

Olympique Lyon and OGC Nice wanted Bah but the player has decided to proceed with Nice. pic.twitter.com\/rhJJcpqdU3<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 24, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

The 19-year-old centre-back chose Nice over Lyon, and with that, Nice have become the breeding ground for an exciting City talent, when that place could have easily been occupied by a United player.<\/p>\n

It is worth noting that FIFA banned United and Nice from transferring players to each other till September 1, 2025, after the ownership tussle last year when both were in Europe.<\/p>\n

However, not only can a move theoretically happen on deadline day, but it also doesn\u2019t excuse Nice from doing Man City a favour instead. <\/p>\n

Several Man Utd youngsters can benefit from Nice loan<\/p>\n

Playing for a competitive outfit in Ligue 1 can be the ideal scenario for several Man Utd youngsters. <\/p>\n

Those on the fringe of a breakthrough, like Sekou Kone, or those who want to get acclimatised to Europe, like Diego Leon<\/a>, can do a job there. <\/p>\n

Furthermore, playing one season of professional football in a top-five league can also raise the asking price for players who won\u2019t get much of a chance at Old Trafford<\/a> this season. <\/p>\n

Ligue 1\u2019s loan rules state that a club can have a maximum of five players on loan at a time, while a maximum of two of those can be from the same club. <\/p>\n

By dealing for Bah, Nice have closed off one spot which could have been used by a United player from January 2026, if not on deadline day of 2025 itself. <\/p>\n

If Bah thrives on loan, Nice will have made Man City a lot richer, either by his breakthrough in the senior team or by making him a sellable asset. <\/p>\n

As cynical as it sounds, this is the reality of modern football, and Ineos have missed a trick by helping a rival. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n