Manchester United turned down the opportunity to loan Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund to sister club OGC Nice during the summer transfer window, according to reports in France. The Ligue 1 side had expressed interest in signing both players on loan, but United declined to do business.
Hojlund eventually joined Serie A side Napoli late in the window, while Mainoo remained at Old Trafford despite requesting a loan move before the deadline. French outlet Ici Azur reported that United offered Nice an unnamed youth player instead, but the offer was rejected as the player was not deemed to be at the required level.
Both clubs are owned by INEOS, the company of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who acquired Nice in 2019. Reports earlier this year suggested Ratcliffe is seeking to sell the French club. Despite UEFA lifting a ban on transfers between the two clubs, United have not adopted the same approach as rivals Chelsea, who have utilised their multi-club model with Strasbourg.
Nice sporting director Florian Maurice told L’Equipe: “I spoke with Manchester United during the transfer window... We envisaged things, like asking them to sign a player and then loaning us back, but their priority was to sell.” He added that he does not believe the Chelsea model reflects United’s strategy.
