Marseille (AFP)
Could Olympique de Marseille be sold to Saudi funds? The bearers of the "Boudjellal project" claim their "seriousness", the club repeats that it is "not for sale". State of play of the forces involved.
. Who behind Boudjellal?
Franco-Tunisian businessman Mohamed Ayachi Ajroudi confirmed "discussions" on Tunisian radio Shems FM, explaining that Mourad Boudjellal would indeed be the president chosen in the event of a takeover.
"I may be the administrative director, according to the agreements in preparation for a year," he added, assuring the "seriousness" of the project.
Ajroudi appears at the head of a Saudi consortium which has not yet revealed the composition of its team.
Ajroudi, 68, an engineer by training, has worked in many fields, notably the environment. His research and consultancy company ONAS International, very well established in the Persian Gulf, has in particular enabled him to build a solid network in the region.
He founded a small political party, The Tunisian Movement for Freedom and Dignity, and owns a television channel in Tunisia, Al Janoubiya.
In sport, he chairs the Stade Nabeulien, a 3rd division club, ran the handball club at Hammamet, and has been a patron for over 15 years of the Stade Gabésien (in the 2nd division), of which he is the president of 'honor.
"Mr. Ajroudi is a man who knows how to bring people together," said one of the candidate buyers.
. Is McCourt a seller?
No, repeats the entourage of the American, denying that discussions have been started. "OM are not for sale," says club president Jacques-Henri Eyraud.
But it is Frank McCourt, the owner, who decides, insists on the side of the buyers.
Several arguments argue against a sale. Phase 2 of the Eyraud / McCourt project has just started, the club is in the process of recruiting two new senior leaders, a "Head of football" and a "Head of business".
On the other hand, the first price that filtered, 300 M EUR, would not allow the Bostonian to recoup his costs. It has already spent around EUR 350 million: EUR 45 million on purchase in October 2016, EUR 78 million of debts settled on arrival, and around EUR 220 million in transfers.
Finally, McCourt is used to making much better deals: in 2012, he resold the Los Angeles Dodgers (baseball) for $ 2 billion, bought $ 430 million eight years earlier.
. The arguments of the candidate buyers
"McCourt bought OM 45 M EUR and the club is not in better shape than when he bought it," AFP member of the buying side said on condition of anonymity.
Could the American sell to stop the costs? "McCourt has put a lot of money, the hole continues to widen, the club is at risk, he is not about to see his sorrel again", continues this source.
The same person recognizes the successes of the JHE team, "the ticket office, the takeover of the stadium, the modernized training center, but there remains an imbalance with considerable damage".
"No economy supports a 50 M EUR deficit (June 2018), (then) 91 M EUR (June 2019) and another heavy deficit to come", asserts this source, promising "a socio-political project bringing together the entire Mediterranean basin ".
. Why do buyers come out of the wood?
If McCourt does not want to sell, the buyers have publicly declared themselves to put pressure.
They let astronomical sums leak out. "The figure of 700 million euros is a journalistic analysis, not silly but not true" specifies the same source to AFP.
On the OM side, it is emphasized that no serious investment bank would appreciate this method of revealing itself first in the media.
These millions make Marseille supporters dream, who are just waiting to ignite, and push the Olympian clan, harassed by the media, to repetitive denials.
"We are not going to re-comment on each twist", is annoyed at OM.
On the sporting front, the answer was the extension of playmaker Dimitri Payet's contract, with salary reduction and retraining at the club, proof that the project is good in the long term.
"They talk about negotiations, but they negotiate on their own," said a member of the management of OM.
"By saying that the club is not for sale, in fact, they are launching the negotiation," replied a buyer. The series is launched ...
© 2020 AFP