The smile on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s face said it all. The British billionaire has come in for his fair share of criticism since taking over Ligue 1 outfit Nice but the decision to spend a club-record £25 million on Terem Moffi already looks like one of his better calls.
A prolific goalscorer at Lorient, the Nigeria international belatedly announced himself to Nice supporters with a Monaco ‘masterclass’ this weekend; scoring twice and setting up the other as Los Aiglons shattered their arch-rivals nine-game unbeaten run with a thumping 3-0 win at the Stade Louis II.
“I never doubted him,” Nice coach Didier Digard says of his marquee January signing; Moffi finally opening his account after a sluggish start to life in his new home.
“The main thing is that he had the support of all his teammates and his coaches. We were aware of the situation, and he could have had doubts. But he was able to work very calmly and feel the confidence everyone had in him.”
Nice beat West Ham United to £25m Terem Moffi
Say what you want about Ratcliffe’s Allianz Arena tenure. Under the Manchester United-mad businessman, there can be no doubts about Nice’s ambition.
Lorient president Loic Fery admits to having accepted bids from both Marseille and West Ham United for Moffi during the January transfer window.
“We had accepted an offer from Marseille and another from West Ham,” Fery says. “(Both offers) were within our parameters.”
And it’s a sign of the times that Nice now have the financial might – not to mention the pulling power – to snap up a centre-forward coveted by a deep-pocketed Premier League club and one of France’s most historic institutions.
And Moffi, in Monaco, took one giant stride towards repaying that £25 million investment. After drawing blanks against Marseille, Ajaccio and Reims, Moffi’s talismanic turn at the home of Nice’s Riviera rivals was the ideal way to introduce yourself to your new supporters. Undoubtedly, Moffi has arrived. Better late than never.
In 21 Ligue 1 starts, Moffi now has 14 goals this season. Only Kylian Mbappe and Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun have scored more.
“Today,” Digard adds, “He was rewarded.”
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