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Bernard Arnault attacks Paris FC. The billionaire’s family holding company, Agache, announced this Thursday, October 17 that it was entering “in exclusive negotiations with a view to the acquisition of a majority stake in Paris FC» and that the Red Bull group was also discussing “for the acquisition of a minority stake“. According to a source close to the matter, the family of the LVMH boss should initially hold 55% of the club and the Austrian brand 15%. As for businessman Pierre Ferracci, president of the Ligue 2 club since 2012, he would keep 30% of the capital before selling his shares in 2027 to the Arnault family, who would then own 85% of the club.
«With the arrival of Agache as majority shareholder of the club, the club will change dimension and aim for new successes», Says the Arnault family holding company, in a press release. The group “intends to gradually bring the men’s team back into the elite of men’s football” with “the same ambition» for the women’s team, which already plays in the first division. She “will rely on the teams in place» and the president of Paris FC, Pierre Ferracci, who is also the father of the current Minister Delegate for Industry, Marc Ferracci.
«With our support, as well as that of our partner Red Bull, we are confident that, gradually, we will write a beautiful page in French football together, without setting specific objectives at this stage. Sport sometimes holds many surprises!», declares the future representative of Agache within the Board of Directors of Paris FC, Antoine Arnault, son of Bernard Arnault. “Paris and Île-de-France constitute a pool of exceptional football talents who must train and grow first in a club in their region […]. We look forward to helping attract more female and male talents who will boost team performance» adds Red Bull general manager in charge of projects and investments, Oliver Mintzlaff.
Timeshare in football
Ultimately, the takeover of Paris FC could lead to the presence in Ligue 1 of a second Parisian club, with Paris Saint-Germain. It also raises the question of multi-ownership in football, potentially devastating for the identity and sporting sustainability of clubs, because the Red Bull group already controls several teams around the world, including RB Leipzig in Germany. Red Bullwill intervene mainly in the sporting dimension in an advisory role, whether this involves strengthening the detection of young talents capable of joining the training center or targeting the best profiles capable of strengthening the competitiveness of the men’s and women’s first teams”, according to the press release.
«Subject to finalization of the legal documentation, this project remains subject to the representative bodies of Paris FC staff and to the approval of the professional club control commission of the National Management Control Department (DNCG)», He added. After eight days of the Championship, Paris FC is currently at the top of the Ligue 2 standings.
