Get French Football News
·20 November 2024
Get French Football News
·20 November 2024
As the takeover of Paris FC nears, prospective new owner Antoine Arnault has unveiled the project, revealing that he has spoken with former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager Jürgen Klopp, following the latter’s appointment as head of global soccer for Red Bull, who will purchase a minority share in the French club.
Arnault is set to become the new owner of the Ligue 2 side. Initially, he is set to buy a 55% stake in the club, Red Bull will acquire a 15% share, and the current owner, Pierre Ferracci, will retain a 30% share which he will then relinquish in 2027.
The prospective new owner has, during a presentation on Wednesday, gone into more detail regarding Red Bull’s future involvement at Paris FC, should the takeover be ratified, as expected. “Red Bull are very competent in football. There were very virtuous and positive talks right from the start. The idea of working together on a football project in France interested them,” began Arnault.
He continued, “This club (Paris FC) will belong to my family, it will not be co-owned by the Arnault family and Red Bull. Red Bull will be minority owners. They don’t want to access multi-ownership. They are a sporting partner.”
There is also intrigue as to Klopp’s involvement at the club. PFC president Ferracci has already joked that the German would not be managing the side. “No, he won’t be the manager. At least, not for now… unless one day we are in the Champions League,” Ferracci told BFM in October.
Arnault revealed, however, that Klopp, naturally, is involved, adding that he had already held conversations with the former Liverpool manager. “We’ve already spent quite a lot of time with them (Red Bull). I have managed to talk with Klopp on numerous occasions. He is very excited by the project and the prospect of coming to work with the teams here,” he began in a press conference, transcribed by RMC Sport.
“Red Bull also have absolutely revolutionary data tools which are going to help us in part with our scouting,” added Arnault, whose takeover of Paris FC now looks like a question of when, not if.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle