John Textor has been under intense scrutiny ever since his departure from Crystal Palace earlier this summer. The circumstances surrounding his exit have raised eyebrows, particularly after he sold his shares in the club to Woody Johnson in an attempt to prevent Oliver Glasner’s side from losing their spot in the Europa League. Unfortunately, his efforts were in vain as Uefa ultimately found that Textor had breached its rules on multi-club ownership due to his ties with Lyon, another European club that qualified for the competition. This led to Crystal Palace being demoted to the Conference League, with Nottingham Forest, owned by Evangelos Marinakis, taking their place in the Europa League.
In a recent interview with Botafogo fans on the Canal do TF YouTube channel, John Textor spoke highly of Marinakis, describing him as the ideal partner he had envisioned having at Crystal Palace. Moreover, in a subsequent interview with The Times, Textor revealed that his strong relationship with Marinakis has enabled them to effectively negotiate transfer fees, further deepening the connection between the two owners.
The situation has drawn the interest of Crystal Palace, with former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson suggesting that the Premier League should look into the matter following Textor’s remarks. There have been multiple deals between Textor and Marinakis involving their various clubs, such as Lyon, Botafogo, and Nottingham Forest, over the past few years. Players have moved between these clubs, sparking questions about the nature of their relationship and the potential impact on the integrity of the game.
Despite speculation about Marinakis potentially investing in Botafogo, no concrete deal has materialized as of yet. The ongoing collaboration between Textor and Marinakis continues to raise eyebrows and prompt further scrutiny, highlighting the intricate intersections between club ownership and transfer dealings in modern football.
