Tavares bets on Marcelo to take FC Nantes to the world stage
On the banks of the Erdre, the potential future owner of FC Nantes, Paulo Tavares, is already unveiling the first faces of a project that goes beyond a simple change of hands. The Portuguese businessman, favourite to buy the club from the Kita family, aims to link the club with a Real Madrid legend to gain international visibility.
Transnational financing for an ambitious plan
According to L’Équipe, the project, backed by Phenix Sport Invest, would rely on several hundred million euros coming from Luxembourg, France and Portugal. Some observers remain very optimistic about the resources available, while others believe Tavares will still need to find partners to realise his ambition.
The presentation document, titled The Race for the Stars, describes a management structure where profiles from sport, media and business would be brought together. Charles Kashema, a former basketball player turned communicator, would be the executive director, and Géraldine Pons, an executive at Eurosport, the chief executive officer, although L’Équipe notes that she would ultimately not join the venture.
Marcelo, the expected international figure
The highlight of the plan is the ambition to attract Marcelo, former left‑back of Real Madrid, as an ambassador for FC Nantes. The Brazilian, who has never played in Ligue 1, would bring a prestigious image and worldwide exposure to the club. His role, as presented, would be to represent FC Nantes on the international stage.
Beyond Marcelo, the project mentions other personalities such as Cyril Linette, former director of the Alpes 2030 organising committee, who could join a strategic board. These recruitments aim to build a solid project, mixing sporting and media expertise.
The plan also intends to rely on Tavares's experience in transfers, notably the move of Djibril Sidibé to AS Monaco, and on his appearances as a consultant on the L’Équipe channel in the late 2010s.
It remains to convince the Kita family and secure the necessary financial guarantees. As long as the takeover is not finalised, the names mentioned remain linked to a project that could still evolve.