The boss of Olympique Lyonnais had called the press for an exceptional conference, without giving further details. The American leader returned to the eventful summer and the saga of television rights.
Without anyone really knowing why, John Textor had called the press this Wednesday evening. It was ultimately a classic back-to-school conference even if the American manager wanted to clarify many points, notably on the club’s finances.
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«100 million euros in sales were not promised to the DNCG, John Textor says straight away. That’s not true, that’s not how it works. We presented a budget. As a reminder, the OL group is listed on the stock exchange. It is also called Eagle Football Group. OL is a subsidiary of the group. When we present the budget to the DNCG, it is that of a group.»
Then, the American president of OL returned at length to the transfer window, presenting a summary of figures so difficult to understand that he himself got lost in his notes.Our goal was to sell for 130 million euros and buy for 200 million, which would have made a balance of -80 million euros, insists the boss of Eagle Football, which also includes the clubs Crystal Palace in England, Molenbeek in Belgium and Botafogo in Brazil. We didn’t manage to sell all the players we wanted. We couldn’t spend 211 million if we didn’t get the 130. So we bought for 140 million and got 45 million. We’re at -95.»
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Although he avoided dwelling on the departure of David Friio, as French law requires – “He doesn’t fit the profile we’re looking for. I’m sure it will be an amicable separation.” – John Textor was satisfied with the transfer window that was completed. “I am very happy to have kept Alex (Lacazette) and I even cried with joy but we had planned his sale. Same for Ernest (Nuamah), I thought he was leaving. But I am really very happy that he is staying. This kind of decision proves that OL is a great club. We have great facilities, we play in the Europa League and we eat better here than in Paris (laughs). Look at our squad. We have strengthened ourselves on all fronts. We are stronger now.»
Also present at this conference, the general director Laurent Prudhomme returned to the main soap opera of the summer of French football.The TV rights situation has had a big impact on us this summer. This summer has been complicated for us but also for many clubs but we are stronger now.“To which John Textor agrees.”This transfer window was very strange: first there was the Euro, then after a wait-and-see attitude and then the Olympic Games. Some people didn’t understand why the transfer window wasn’t launched. Saudi Arabia was less present. It was complicated for everyone..»
Before concluding: “I wonder how some teams will be able to survive this drop in TV rights, says John Textor, who has confided that he is on the verge of buying Everton. For me, it was a mistake. There are a lot of problems in Ligue 1.»
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