Is John Textor's plan to avoid Ligue 2 viable?

The sentence fell last Friday: Olympique Lyonnais was demoted as a precautionary measure to Ligue 2. The DNCG also imposed a recruitment ban and a control of the payroll on the Rhone club.

Following this resounding announcement, the team revealed John Textor's plan to replenish the club's coffers and allow it to remain in the elite of French Football. This plan and its viability are analyzed today in today's edition of the sports daily.

Can Botafogo help OL?

First of all, there is the question around possible aid from Botafogo. The Brazilian club, also a member of the Eagle galaxy, cannot replenish OL's coffers like that. “Even in a group, operations must be in the interest of the companies concerned and not to the detriment of one to favor another”indicates an informed player in the file to the Team.

The market value of the Brazilian club is also a hindrance. “ According to Transfermarkt, it is €136 million, so he cannot sell for €75 million or €80 million either. There is a limiting factor in practice. And you have to remember that when the whole world knows that you have to sell, you will sell for less than expected”indicates Vincent Chaudel, founder of the Sports Business Observatory, to the sports daily.

But OL could repeat “Operation Ernest Nuamah” with Botafogo. “The other way is to say, Botafogo, I buy an OL player. I can balance the books by cross-purchasing between my different clubs. This is what OL did with Molenbeek (for Ernest Nuamah) »specifies Vincent Chaudel.

The sale of Crystal Palace shares

In other options to recover funds, John Textor affirmed his intention to sell his shares (45%) in Crystal Palace and would have presented concrete offers to the DNCG. There would be four candidates to buy these shares and one of the offers would be around €270 million, according to the Daily Mail.

Is this amount sensible? Difficult to say for the Team and its stakeholders. But part of this recovered money should return to OL.

The sale of OL players

To reduce its payroll and recover cash, the Rhone club must of course sell this winter and next summer. Many departures are expected, particularly those of players who were little or not used at the start of the season. The Team mentions in particular the names of Anthony Lopes, Gift Orban and Wilfried Zaha.

Players with good market value, who disappoint this season, could also be sold this winter. The sports daily thinks of Saïd Benrahma, Ernest Nuamah, Maxence Caqueret and Saël Kumbedi. But if OL do not sell enough with the players mentioned above, important players from the start of the season and courted on the market, like Malick Fofana and Rayan Cherki, could leave.

But this is not the will of Les Gones today, who are counting on these two players to remain competitive and try to qualify for the next Champions League. Note that Fofana and Cherki, who would not necessarily want to leave this winter, could bring in more than €60 million. A non-negligible sum but this option will only be activated as a last resort, reminds the Team.

Eagle Football soon on the stock market, good news?

The Eagle Football holding company, owner of OL, has also expressed its ambition to join the New York Stock Exchange in the first quarter of 2025. Good news for OL?

“I don’t believe at all in this arrival on the stock market. It is clearly shown that if you want to make money, you should not invest in football on the stock market.estimates Jean-François Brocard to the Team.

A vision shared by Vincent Chaudel who sees quite a few obstacles and does not believe in raising significant money with this possible IPO.

Extended the debt to breathe easier?

While Olympique Lyonnais has a debt of 500 million euros, the Rhone club could increase it in the medium term to reduce it in the short term. This is the principle of a “waiver”, which would allow the club to give itself some breathing room.

Vincent Chaudel gives a telling example: “It’s the same practice as what Barça did when (Joan) Laporta returned. There were 1.3 billion euros in debt, and he started by managing short-term debts, moving them to medium term. He extended the repayment, like: I still owe you this capital, we're going to extend it, I'm going to reduce the annual cost, but in the end I'm going to pay more interest. »

OL, a Bordeaux-style destiny? Normally no

Obviously, this very tense situation at Olympique Lyonnais scares supporters who already see themselves suffering the same fate as the Girondins de Bordeaux. But that shouldn't happen. Between the stadium, the training center and a fairly extensive portfolio of players, the Rhone club has a lot of assets.

On the other hand, if this situation should not be fatal for OL, it could be for John Textor. “I’m more worried about Textor than OL. Because there is a fund behind it, Ares. If Textor fails to honor its debt, Ares will take the baby back and manage it like the Elliott fund did for AC Milan.explains Vincent Chaudel.

The Ares fund and its creditors also do not want OL to go down to Ligue 2. So, even if this situation were to put an end to John Textor's adventure, the situation should not be dramatic for the Rhone club. . At least not to imagine a demotion to National 2 like for the Girondins de Bordeaux.