After the coup with Klopp: Red Bull’s big football deal is expected to become official on Thursday

After the coup with Klopp
Red Bull’s major football deal is expected to become official on Thursday

October 15, 2024, 4:15 p.m

In France, Paris FC is about to be taken over by new investors. Jürgen Klopp and Red Bull are involved – and thus cause mixed feelings. Through its shares in Leeds United, the group would now be involved in three of the five major European football nations.

Parisian football fans have been waiting for a real city derby in France’s elite league for over 24 years. Paris Saint-Germain last met Racing Paris there in February 1990 and saw their local rivals relegated at the end of the season. But the wait could soon be over: Paris FC will soon challenge the all-powerful PSG, with the help of the richest man in France, Red Bull – and the expertise of Jürgen Klopp?

The energy drink giant is planning the next long-term project in professional football as a partner alongside the luxury brand company LVMH, which belongs to Bernard Arnault, one of the wealthiest businessmen in the world, shortly after Klopp’s coup. The investor team wants to use financial strength and know-how to elevate the club from a second division club to a challenger to the exceptional French club. The deal, which is causing mixed feelings among French fans, could go through as early as this week.

Will the deal become official on Thursday?

“Finally there will be a real derby in Paris, like there is in London, Madrid or Milan,” says Jean-Baptiste Guegan, expert in sports geopolitics and PSG fan, to the AFP agency. Paris FC will benefit in the medium term from the windfall “as well as from Red Bull’s sporting expertise, which has already been demonstrated and which will be further strengthened by the arrival of Jürgen Klopp as head of football activities.”

As AFP reports, citing a source close to the negotiations, the agreement is expected to be announced on Thursday. The Arnault family would receive 55 percent of the shares, 15 percent to Red Bull. 30 percent would remain with the current president and shareholder Pierre Ferracci.

The project puts the fans of the Ligue 2 leaders in a gap. They are happy to accept the prospect of success, but not at any price. The downside is Red Bull, because a label à la Leipzig or Salzburg remains a red flag. “We don’t want to become Red Bull Paris,” a spokesman for the Ultras told Le Parisien. This “would deal a huge blow to our values.” There is a fear of “multiple ownership” and a possible “conflict of interest that one club is placed above the other”.

“Quite a lot of optimism – and a little bit of worry”

There will be no renaming, which Ferracci promised the Ultras, but there will be a generous budget. Overall, the Ultras’ verdict is that there is “quite a lot of optimism – and a bit of worry.” And the competition? She remains calm for the time being. “This is great for Paris, great for French football,” said PSG boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi. According to Guegan, a new opponent would “inevitably challenge” PSG, which is supported by Qatari money, and “force it to conduct its business even better.”

Through the shares in the English second division club Leeds United, which Red Bull has held for several months, the group would then be involved in three of the five major European football nations. And Klopp, who will take on a strategic role in his new role as Head of Global Soccer, could also help Paris FC with his knowledge.