A year before the critical moment, FCNantes found itself at the heart of incessant rumors of sale, while its president, WaldemarKita, remained undecided. Supporters, exhausted by lackluster seasons, scrutinized every hint of a transfer, while social media buzzed with the possibility of a change of ownership. RomainMolina, official voice of the club, then announced that the sale was no longer being considered, stressing that the time was “the worst to sell” due to the fall in TV rights and a 13th place in the ranking. Kita, a cautious businessman, said he was ready to “plug the holes” even if it meant prolonging an already harmful status quo.
Behind-the-scenes discussions with potential buyers quickly dissipated, leaving fans with the exit door closing with no prospect of revival. A year later, the governance crisis intensified, with the club finding itself in Ligue 2 and in 15th place, far from its ambitions to improve. The Kita family remains in charge, but the club recently suffered an additional setback: the failure of negotiations with PhenixCapital. Kita, after having opened the door to a buyer, closed it suddenly, describing the file as “not serious” and denouncing the absence of sufficient financial guarantees.
At the same time, revelations about the recruitment project fueled the controversy. An American rapper and the ex-international Marcelo were mentioned as key figures to embody the “beautiful game” of Nantes, giving this attempt an almost farcical tone. This image contrasts with sporting reality: Grégory Poirier, appointed to the bench, is already threatened, management is under increasing pressure and defeats are accumulating, eroding the hopes of supporters.
In short, the time wasted waiting for a hypothetical sale has left the club in a present undermined by instability and wear and tear. Even the dream of a new beginning seems to have deserted the yellow and green hearts, while FCNantes continues to fight to regain its place of honor in French football.