OGC Nice's project is attracting interest, including in Asia where the club has begun to develop since the change of ownership in June 2016. Last week, a delegation from Hengfeng Zhicheng spent three days in Nice to visit the Allianz Riviera, the club's future training ground, attend first team and U17 training sessions, as well as meeting with the Gym's directors and its academy. 

"It's always a pleasure to welcome clubs from abroad who have come to learn lessons from us and to find out about our methods", explained Jean-Pierre Rivère who spent a long time conversing with his counterpart Xiaoting Wen, the president of the club based in the Guizhou province, in the south of China and recently promoted to the Super League. "Chinese football is developing quickly, it is a real source of pride for us that they turn to us to develop the training put in place for their players and to find a development plan for their club. That proves that the Gym benefits from a great image and that the project we have been putting in place over several years, is coherent and attractive."

Next year, the Gym's U17 will also be able to participate in a tournament which will be organised in Guizhou. A first step, whilst many others can be explored. "Our best players could complete their training in Nice",  hoped Xiaoting Wen. "Whilst we would love it if OGC Nice sent coaches to come and take sessions with us." The possibilities for collaboration are numerous, and could even go beyond the footballing environment, as the president of Hengfeng Zhicheng underlined: "We would like to come back soon to discuss a ‘twinning' between the city of Nice and Guiyang (capital of the Guizhou province, Editor's note)."

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