The potential sale of Olympique de Marseille to a Saudi Arabia-affiliated group is back in the spotlight. The British media outlet The Independent reports that an entity linked to the Saudi state is seeking to acquire a European club of similar stature to Newcastle.
Is OM about to be sold? Franck McCourt says no, but The Independent confirms that Saudi Arabia is considering it, along with other options, and is hesitant. This Saudi public investment fund is considering buying either Valencia FC in the Spanish La Liga or OM in the French Ligue 1.
Although an acquisition by the Saudi public investment fund, which owns Newcastle, is not currently being considered, intermediaries are actively working on behalf of an entity linked to the Saudi state and have made significant progress toward a potential deal.
The Saudis see Valencia and OM as attractive opportunities for several reasons: they are historic clubs, their recent performances do not match their rich history, and they offer significant growth potential even with moderate investment.
While the Spanish club competes in La Liga, which is perceived as more attractive, the current owner, Peter Lim, is reportedly hesitant to sell, which could tilt the scales in favor of OM. However, the final decision will depend on the willingness of OM’s owner, Frank McCourt, to sell the club.
