From the Champions League quarterfinals to a €1 sale! Famous French club set to get new owners

Former Champions League participants Girondins de Bordeaux are on the brink of another major turning point. The French club, now competing in only the sixth tier of the country’s football pyramid, could be sold to English investment firm Park Bench for just €1.

According to Sud-Ouest, citing The Sun, Bordeaux’s current owner Gérard Lopez is ready to give up the club for a symbolic sum. The deal is also expected to help resolve the team’s long-standing financial problems. Following the takeover, the terms for repaying the debt are set to be revised: the repayment period would be extended from 10 to 12 years, while the total debt would be reduced from €26 million to €13 million.

Just a few years ago, Bordeaux were operating in a completely different reality. In the 2009–10 season, the team reached the Champions League quarterfinals, while in Ligue 1 they regularly challenged for the top spots and even won the French championship.

• Also read: Another goal-scoring spectacle from Messi? MLS prediction: Columbus vs. Inter Miami

Now, Bordeaux’s fortunes could change following a deal whose symbolic price stands in stark contrast to the rich history of the French club.