Everton goodison park
John Textor, a prominent figure in the football world, recently revealed that he was on the verge of acquiring Everton last year. However, his plans were thwarted when Dan Friedkin outmaneuvered him. Now, Textor’s French club, Olympique Lyonnais, faces relegation to Ligue 2 due to financial instability. This development has sparked discussions among Everton fans about whether they narrowly avoided a potential crisis, similar to Lyon’s current predicament.
John Textor said: “Nobody wakes up and thinks, ‘I get to buy Everton’.” He added, “In England, we thought we were very close to Everton. I think I’ll probably say it for the first time publicly now. We didn’t realise that we were 24 hours away, our documents were ready, and we were ready to send the money and they were still going through a bidding process with another buyer. Sometimes you can achieve a lot with a handshake. Other times you need more than a handshake. So, I make mistakes, the Everton thing didn’t happen, there’s probably a reason for that. I think there are reasons for everything. And I think we’re going to end up with a better situation in the Premier League. And there’s a reason why that didn’t happen and something else will.”
Textor’s comments highlight the complexities and uncertainties involved in high-profile football club acquisitions. His near acquisition of Everton underscores the volatile nature of football investments, where deals can fall through at the last moment due to competitive bidding processes.
The relegation of Lyon, a club Textor owns, was enforced by the DNGC, the French body responsible for overseeing the financial accounts of professional football clubs. Despite efforts to convince the DNGC of improved financial conditions, Lyon was unable to avoid the drop to Ligue 2. This situation serves as a cautionary tale for clubs aiming to qualify for European competitions, as financial mismanagement can have severe consequences.
In a related development, Textor has agreed to sell his 43% stake in Crystal Palace to Woody Johnson, owner of the NFL team New York Jets. This move might impact Crystal Palace’s aspirations in the Europa League, especially considering the multi-club ownership model Textor was involved in.
Everton, meanwhile, benefited from their dealings with Lyon last summer, acquiring Jake O’Brien for £16.43 million and securing Orel Mangala on a season-long loan. Textor’s intervention reportedly redirected Mangala to Goodison Park, despite an agreement for the player to join Fiorentina.
The unfolding events surrounding Textor, Lyon, and Everton reflect the intricate web of football club ownership and the potential pitfalls of financial mismanagement. As Textor navigates these challenges, the football world watches closely to see how these developments will influence the future of the clubs involved.
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