John Textor took another blow to the head with the recruitment ban imposed on Olympique Lyonnais, as well as the provisional relegation of the Ligue 1 giant. The American owner affirmed that OL feared nothing.
John Textor made a point of not letting the DNCG have the last word: after the body responsible for issuing licenses announced a ban on recruiting during the next one and – even worse – the provisional relegation of OL, he explained during a presentation that his club “did not risk anything”.
Textor notably argued that the DNCG had refused to take into account the fact that Olympique Lyonnais was part of a constellation – Eagle Football – whose financial situation had to be taken as a whole.
Thus, if the situation of OL as such does not meet the criteria required by the DNCG, John Textor affirms, in comments relayed by The Teamthat Eagle Football could provide these financial guarantees. Textor’s group includes RWDM and Botafogo, as well as shares in Crystal Palace.
“We are a large organization, and it is important to realize that all our clubs contribute. Our services collaborate, our financial services collaborate,” assures John Textor, who believes that the DNCG “could not digest” the number of financial data provided by Eagle Football.
Eagle Football, for example, is preparing to sell the 45.3% stake that the group holds in Crystal Palace, which would be enough, says Textor, to more than cover the financial needs of Olympique Lyonnais. “We will not be relegated, there is no chance of that happening,” he reassures.
“We have resources that go well beyond the club. Even if we fail on all our global initiatives, worth 700 million euros, the owners will not let the club sink,” assures Textor.
This should not prevent, according to The TeamOlympique Lyonnais to sell several executives this winter to provide enough cash and more than necessary, in order to finish the season in the green and avoid any problems at the end of the season. Malick Fofana may indeed have a change of scenery…
