While OL passed in front of the DNCG this Friday, John Textor assured Friday that he was “not at all worried about the sustainability” of Eagle, the company of which Olympique Lyonnais is a part, despite its heavy debt.
The American John Textor assured Friday, after a meeting in front of the Football financial policeman in Paris, that he would not be “at all worried about sustainability” of the company which oversees Olympique Lyonnais, despite its heavy debt. “I am confident in our figures”, “we are going to bring in several hundred millions of cash in the coming months”, he told the press again, according to a recording sent to AFP by the club. The businessman, who bought OL from Jean-Michel Aulas in 2023, assured that the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG) had looked at the “complete picture” of the parent company Eagle Football Holdings , which also owns the clubs Botofogo in Brazil and Molenbeek in Belgium.
Last week, its French branch published results accounts which plunged supporters into doubt. Despite a reduction in its net losses, Eagle Football Group's net cash debt remains at €463.8 million. To clear them, the company relies on inflows of money coming in particular from Botofogo and Molenbeek, but, considering that it does not have sufficient elements to judge the character “reasonable” of these assumptions, the auditors have indicated that they might not certify the accounts. “The local commissioners only looked at the French football club and did not consider the hundreds of millions of dollars that will come from different parts of our organization,” lamented John Textor. “We are not at all worried about our sustainability.”
To reassure Lyon supporters, the American also assured that the club would not give up its best elements because its “goal is to be selected for the Champions League this year”. “We earn around 90 million euros per year from the sale of players”he said. “It will continue but don't worry, he won't be your favorite player, the best player, if we don't have someone to replace him and play even better”. “I am confident in our figures but I am never confident in the way a regulatory body sees things,” he nevertheless admitted, evoking “pressure” from his “enemies” dont “a big club linked to Qatar».
