The company United World, owned by Saudi Prince Abdallah Ben Moussaed, has bought the Chateauroux football club, currently in last position in the Ligue 2 standings. Sports economist Pierre Rondeau explains on Europe 1 how this buyout is an operation purely economic investment for the wealthy businessman.

But what does a Saudi Arabian do in Berry?

Everyone is asking this question in Châteauroux.

The company United World, owned by Saudi Prince Abdullah Ben Moussaed buys the football club, current last in Ligue 2. For sports economist Pierre Rondeau there is no doubt: the Saudi prince's intentions are "solely for economic purposes ". 

An investment of around three million euros

The personal fortune of Prince Abdullah Ben Moussaed is estimated at 200 million euros.

In addition to the Berrichonne de Châteauroux, United World already owns the two European clubs of Sheffield (England) and Beerschot (Belgium).

His investment in the latter case is estimated at three million euros.

United World is proud to add @LaBerrichonne to its portfolio of clubs @ SheffieldUnited @ kbeerschotva @ Alhilal_United @ KeralaUnitedFC @ Saudi49er @ michel_denisot @ GilAverous @ SUFCArabic @ BeerschotArabic @ SUFCTurk @ BeerschotTurkpic.tCHitter9e / s84

- UNITED WORLD (@UnitedWorldSA) March 9, 2021

But the sports economist Pierre Rondeau assures him, the purchase of the club remains above all an investment.

"It is a professional club sold for less than five million euros, so it could possibly be resold. So the Saudi investor could certainly realize a potential capital gain in five years, ten years or fifteen years of thirty, fifty even a hundred thousand euros if the economic situation allows it again ", he explains. 

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Michel Denisot, president with Marco Simone trainer?

For now, the Ligue 2 club is far from being valued at 100 million euros.

Journalist Michel Denisot is expected to be named president, a post he has already held twice.

He should be helped by Patrick Trotignon, according to

L'Equipe

.

For its part, the local daily

Le Berry Républicain puts

forward the name of Marco Simone, former PSG striker, as coach.

The objective is to keep the club in Ligue 2, to then consider higher.

Châteauroux which has only ridden once in its history in Ligue 1: 24 years ago during the 1997/1998 season.