Acquisition of OM: "The project is not finished, it is in the pipeline", assures Louis Acariès

INTERVIEW

The OM buyout project is not buried.

Louis Acariès, who played an advisory role within the Marseille club in the 2000s, assures him "Facing the listeners" of Europe 1. The former boxer, who is involved in this buyout project led by the Franco-Tunisian businessman Mohamed Ayachi Ajroudi and Mourad Boudjellal, recounts the latest developments in this case which was believed to be buried.

"The project is not finished, it is in the pipeline. I know very well that Mourad (Boudjellal) is discussing with Mr. Ajroudi. Believe me: they are in contact, perhaps not Mourad but Mr. Ajroudi, with Franck McCourt . But that is not said to the general public, there have been so many problems. We say anything and everything, but for the moment we must leave time to time ", certifies Louis Acariès.

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"It is very difficult at the moment to buy a club"

The former boxer highlights the current economic situation, between coronavirus and doubts about the payments of television rights by Mediapro, to explain the length of discussions around this buyout project.

"It is very difficult at the moment to buy a club with all that is going on. But if I give you OM, what are you doing with it now? You don't know if the club will play in the League champions, if players are going to get sick, "explains Louis Acariès, who advised Robert Louis-Dreyfus, the former owner of OM, between 2004 and 2008.

"We are in pretty dark days. Why buy a club when you cannot bring spectators to the stadium and the TV rights are not paid? You have to let time pass for everything to be sorted out. is not closed, ”concludes Louis Acariès.

The buyout project hit the headlines last summer and gave rise to a real communication battle between the Ajroudi-Boudjellal clan and the McCourt camp, determined (at least officially) not to sell OM.