On edge since the day before and the announcement of the “conservative demotion” to Ligue 2 of the club by the DNCG, many OL supporters expected to be able to follow John Textor's press conference live on YouTube, this Saturday morning, as had been communicated. But ultimately, the American owner changed the rules in the morning, claiming “a cold and the financial markets” when launching his two-hour presentation in front of media required not to relay anything live.
Thus navigates the Olympique Lyonnais Textor version, capable of a speech of flawless serenity at the end of the DNCG Friday afternoon (“The meeting went well, the DNCG understood our organization. There was enough financial discussions, enough journalists and supporters playing accountants, time for Football”), then to regret “a problem of understanding with the DNCG which does not have confidence in us” less than 24 hours later.
“We have a unique model”
Because the boss of Eagle Football does not budge: these heavy sanctions of “conservative demotion”, “control of the payroll” and “ban on recruiting” are the responsibility of the independent commission hosted by the LFP.
“At the DNCG, there are intelligent people but they work in a system and they do not want to look at what we are doing on a global scale,” regrets John Textor. The DNCG must digest a lot of figures in a very short time. For her to tell me how to run my business seems awkward to me. We have a unique model, we are a broad organization, and it is important to realize that all our clubs contribute to it. »
“No chance of us being relegated”
So much so that the Florida businessman already explained the day before that “this year, Botafogo will have to replenish the coffers of OL”. This “sharing relationship” dimension within Eagle Football (with the Belgian D2 club Molenbeek), between the current leader of the Brazilian championship and Lyon, has obviously not convinced the DNCG. Enough to make OL fear the worst, currently 5th in Ligue 1 but now with a sword of Damocles hanging over their heads for the next off-season?
« We won't be relegated, there's no chance we will be. I know there are skeptics about our situation but OL are not in danger. We'll have more cash than we need. »
By what means will OL be able to erase a significant part of its overall debts of 505 million euros? Eagle Football plans as listed The Team to inject €75 million into OL's accounts next month, as well as around €40 million in the event of the sale of Crystal Palace shares (Textor owns 45.3% of the capital of this Premier League club), then €100 million at the start of 2025 from parent company Eagle Football Holdings, and essential player sales during the January transfer window.
Ares could not take over the management of OL
If this battle plan were to fail, or not suit Ares, which had lent Eagle €400 million when it bought OL, could this American investment fund separate from John Textor and take over the destiny of the club, like Elliott (AC Milan and Losc) and Oaktree (Inter Milan) before him?
Our file on John Textor
“It’s a private loan, they don’t have OL assets as guarantee,” confides John Textor. The only collateral they have is my equity. » More than ever, it is therefore better for all OL supporters that Eagle Football's strategy, again praised by Textor this Saturday, experiences the same success by the end of the season as a tumble of ( always) Lyonnais Malick Fofana.
