OL and John Textor seriously worry Botafogo and Brazil

Friday, the DNCG hit hard on the fingers of Olympique Lyonnais. Bad student, the Rhone club was called to order by the financial policeman of French Football, who had already lectured it in the past. This time, it has therefore been decided that the residents of Groupama Stadium will be deprived of recruitment during the next winter transfer window, in January 2025. In addition, the DNCG has pronounced a precautionary relegation of OL to end of the 2024-25 season. A strong decision, which John Textor obviously did not expect, he who had been very confident after leaving his audition late Friday morning. The American businessman therefore explained himself to the press on Saturday morning. Finally, it's a big word since the journalists were only able to relay his statements once the press conference was over.

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OL helped by Botafogo

The boss of Eagle Football therefore revealed to his audience part of his battle plan to meet the expectations of the DNCG, which he did not hesitate to criticize. “OL is not a club in danger. We will save cash with the sale of Crystal Palace. Debts can also be paid elsewhere, in other Eagle Football Group subsidiaries. We have asset and player sales, we think our plan is going to work. As a global organization, we have many tools to address the situation.” Statements that are in line with those he had made the day before, after his hearing. “That’s the advantage of being a timeshare that shares liquidity and resources between all the clubs. And OL no longer bails out Botafogo. This year, Botafogo will have to replenish OL’s coffers.”

He added: “but it's a sharing relationship, it's a family, and both sides benefit as we move up the charts from the bottom to the top of every chart in every market we're in.” Exactly, what do we think of all this commotion at OL in the big Eagle Football family? On the Brazilian side, where Textor has clearly indicated that Botafogo will “having to replenish the coffers of OL”this situation is worrying. The auriverde media, Lance!wrote on the subject: “As part of the Eagle Football group, Botafogo could be directly affected by the crisis of the French club. The debt could lead to the sale of Glorioso's important assets. Although the negotiation of certain players like Almada, Luiz Henrique, Igor Jesus and any other with a projection for Europe is not something unexpected, the urgency can generate agreements for lower values ​​than those would like. supporters.”

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The Brazilian press and supporters are not reassured

For his part, Globo wondered how OL's financial problems could impact the Brazilian Serie A team? “As a multi-club network, it may suffer losses as part of Lyon's need for financial viability. In other words, one of the ways Textor needs to raise money for Eagle's coffers is by selling out Botafogo players. With the arrival of the Libertadores final, the probable Brasileirão title and the various call-ups of the national teams, the players have been valued and are on display. Naturally, the club must receive offers for them, but the sales process could be accelerated due to the rush to present a positive result in the Eagle coffers (…) The Rio club has received one offer so far of 30 million pounds (around €36 million) for Igor Jesus. The striker, author of good performances recently and current number 9 of the national team, has attracted the attention of the English market. The other targets of foreign clubs are Luiz Henrique and Thiago Almada.

And these methods do not appeal to everyone. In Botafogo, where some supporters had expressed their discontent in the past by believing that Textor would favor Lyon when he took charge of the club; some fans are panicking now.“The biggest club is Lyon, if it falls it drags down the rest, and Botafogo is part of the rest. Let's hope that Lyon gets rid of the sanctions in relation to fair play. In Europe, there are regulations”launched one of them in reaction to the article by Globo. Another confided: “everyone already knew that the players would go to other satellite teams, we just didn't imagine that Botafogo wouldn't even receive the money from the sales…” A supporter let loose on the American. “Botafogo no longer exists, what we see is John Textor playing for money, a rich man's toy. Incompetence killed the traditional Botafogo. It’s just true, the fans are not to blame, the former presidents are.” Everyone hopes that OL will resolve all their problems very quickly, to avoid being a collateral victim.