Jean-Michel Aulas shows concern for the future of OL

Jean-Michel Aulas as he enters the pitch at Parc OL (credit: Damien LG – OL)

Quite discreet since the DNCG sanctioned OL, Jean-Michel Aulas breaks the silence. The former president of Lyonnais is very worried about the future of the club.

Since mid-November, theOL is in the hot seat from a financial point of view. Indeed, the DNCG sanctioned the Rhone club which could find itself demoted to Ligue 2 next season, if John Textor fails to bring money into the coffers of theOlympique Lyonnais. Since this sanction by the football financial policeman, Jean-Michel Classes had rather remained discreet. However, after two months of silence, the former president of OL took advantage of an interview to The Media Square to talk about it.

Firstly, Jean-Michel Classes dwelled on the period during which he was responsible for finding the best buyer for the club. A difficult time for him. “Obviously I regret the sale of the club. But there was nothing I could do to avoid that. It's a little known thing now, I did all the interviews to sell in the best interests of the shareholders, he said in the interview. I had prioritized the family Gillettthe former owner of Liverpool. The bank prioritized John Textor. It wasn't my first choice, as John didn't have the football credentials that the family had Gillett and because it was a question of personality and relationship.”

“Above all, do not take the decisions of the DNCG lightly”

Having had to face the press of Pathé et IDG Capital, During the rest of the interview, the former president of OL therefore had no choice but to accept John's takeover. Weaver. The two had their bickering, and despite relations returning to normal, Aulas admits to having “fear for the future of Olympique Lyonnais”.

He highlights this principle of multiple ownership, far from being to his taste and accepted in France, as the DNCG sanctions have shown. “From the moment the DNCG has all the powers, and is focused on an economic vision of the OL entity and not the group entity as John Textor would like, this will force it to bring back a certain number of resources towards OL and obviously that the decisions of the DNCG should not be taken lightly.”. Many problems that Jean-Michel Classes would surely never have imagined after the sale of the club.