This should be fun to watch.
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Billionaire American businessman Frank McCourt, 63, has agreed to buy Ligue 1 giant Marseille.
Yeah, that Frank McCourt who owned the LA Dodgers in a highly controversial stretch from 2004-12.
According to the Mayor of Marseille the deal is done with a reported fee of $45 million being suggested by RMC. If that’s the case, it is a steal for a storied franchise which has a glistening stadium to call home.
In a statement released by the club on Monday, they confirmed that an “exclusivity agreement regarding the acquisition Football Club Olympique de Marseille” had been reached between McCourt and current owner Mrs. Margarita Louis-Dreyfus.
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It was also stated that “both parties wish to complete the transaction by the end of the year” while Louis-Dreyfus stated that Marseille has “turned a page in its history” and stated that McCourt woud be “a new owner who would care for our fantastic club” and also said that he is “the best choice to succeed my family and to ensure a great future for OM.”
In the statement McCourt said the following about the potential acquisition of Marseille:
“Participating in the history of Marseille and guiding the club to success, both on the field and off, is an honor and a privilege for my family and myself. OM is both one of the oldest football clubs and most respected in the world and is also the only French club to win the UEFA Champions League. This is one of the most iconic brands in the world of sports. OM has the support of passionate legions of fans in Marseille, France and worldwide. As head of the OM my ambition is to rebuild a high-level team, to provide the best experience for football fans, to strengthen ties with the club’s supporters and the City of Marseille and to lead the club to financial stability over the long-term.”
Boston native McCourt has come in for plenty of criticism for the way he ran the LA Dodgers so it is quite right for there to be a high level of skepticism from Marseille’s fans about this takeover.
The real estate mogul will be entering one of the most passionately supported teams in Europe which has hugely demanding fans who want success now.
So often a volatile club with a high turnover of players and managers, is McCourt ready to become the latest American billionaire to take over a huge European soccer team?
We will find out. Like I said, this should be fun…
