'Always an open door' - Nice boss Francesco Farioli sheds light on Sir Jim Ratcliffe's methods ahead of INEOS chief's Man Utd arrival

Farioli, the manager of OGC Nice has revealed the working style and how Ratcliffe, the CEO of INEOS and soon-to-be co-owner of Manchester United, operates in regards to the football club. INEOS are set to take over a minority stake from the Glazer family. Ratcliffe is also expected to take over the sporting side of the club under his wing with former CEO Richard Arnold having already left and director John Murtough set to depart soon.

Farioli also provided positive feedback on Ratcliffe and his thought process from a sporting perspective. He told The Telegraph [via GFIN]: "I met Jim Ratcliffe a few days after (taking the job) because he was very busy,” said Farioli. “But from his side, the first time we met, the feeling he transferred to me, it was really like the feeling of somebody that was really aware of many things. I felt already known before knowing him. It was a really warm welcome."

"I like to listen to the feedback I receive because it’s good to have different perspectives and different input. Afterwards, I have freedom in the decisions on the pitch. In other things, a bit more for the medium and long term, there is always an open door. We share our opinions and we have periodic, day-by-day, or weekly conversations. But also with the club, we have a monthly review of everything with all the parts involved – about the strategy, about the present and also about the future."

"The ambitions of the club are already quite big with the desire to bring the team back in Europe and to be constantly in the European competition. This is the target, to dream big."

Farioli is recognised as one of the game's finest young managers, and whether he returns to Italy or not remains to be seen, but Nice's decision to appoint the 34-year-old is already proving to be a game changer. As for Ratcliffe, with the takeover set to be completed soon, he will be looking towards the January transfer window to set an impression down early.

With Nice already flying high in Ligue 1 in second place, just a point behind defending champion, Paris Saint-Germain, Farioli will be looking to take the fight to the leaders as they face Toulouse on November 26.