LOSC Lille owner Gerard Lopez has revealed he had the opportunity to buy Sunderland while Ellis Short owned the club.
Lopez, who was also the owner of F1 team Lotus, took over as Lille's majority shareholder in 2016 and oversaw their second placed finish in Ligue 1 last season which has secured LOSC a place in the Champions League this term.
The Luxembourg-born businessman was asked in an interview with La Journal Dimanche whether he would ever consider buying an English club and he revealed he had the opportunity to buy Sunderland from Ellis Short.
"I had the opportunity to buy Sunderland, then in the Premier League, which I knew the owner," the 47-year-old said.
"I did not do it because, in terms of project construction, I prefer to work in France, the best talent pool in the world.
"No regrets.
"In suffering with LOSC, I fell in love with it. I’m not Lillois, but for me it’s not a normal box, not an investment in a refinery. So much so that I could not consider another club. Some people will smile while reading this, but I do not care."
