The former president of the Toulon Rugby Club Mourad Boudjellal is aiming to acquire Olympique de Marseille with investors from the Middle East. The project would be based on Saudi funds, which may be interested in buying the Marseille club. And the figures given make you dizzy: the operation would involve a total of 700 million euros (300 for the buyout, 200 to pay off the debts and 200 for the transfer window). But for now on the side of the current owner of OM, the American Frank McCourt, the door remains closed.
The buyout operation enters a new phase: in the entourage of Mourad Boudjellal, it is assured that an investment bank could be designated this week. It will not be Rotschild, since the institution formally denies being involved in this file.
"We are aware of the means it takes to be at the height of the monument"
The former president of the Toulon rugby club wants to go fast, occupy the field to discourage competing projects and put pressure on the management of OM.
In the media, the coup is successful. We only talk about him, but Mourad Boudjellal assures him, Marseille deserves an interest. "We are nevertheless aware of the monument. And we are aware of the means it takes to be at the height of the monument," he said. "I think I can carry this project: it's exciting, it's scary, and for the moment stage n ° 1, McCourt has the answer."
But owner Frank McCourt remains silent for the moment; as for the management of the club, the president Jacques-Henri Eyraud put an end to not accept in a sentence: "Marseilles is not for sale."
>> Also find the editorial from our journalist Virginie Phulpin: "Mourad Boudjellal has a gift: attracting attention when we know almost nothing about the project he embodies"