Lyon opened an internal investigation to investigate possible irregularities in transfers involving Botafogo and the owner of the Brazilian club’s SAF, the American John Textor. According to the newspaper L’Équipe, the French club was surprised by charging fees to players who had never played for the team.
According to the vehicle, Lyon received charges from the investment company MCCP Investiment Partners, which anticipated revenues relating to the transfers of five players: Igor Jesus, Luiz Henrique, Savarino, Thiago Almada and Jair Cunha. Of these, only Almada defended the French club.
The situation was described by L’Equipe as “the latest scandal inherited from the Textor era”. The American controlled both Botafogo and Lyon, at the same time, through Eagle Football Holdings. However, he was removed from the French club in June this year due to financial chaos that almost resulted in the team’s relegation.
Textor would have anticipated revenues involving the players’ negotiations with MCCP, however, the transfers were never registered by the LFP (French Professional Football League).
Double page article @lequipe talks about how John Textor used his multi-club network and relationship with Marinakis (N. Forest) for phantom transfers with the aim of making up the balance sheet. French football’s financial control body (DNCG) must ask for explanations. pic.twitter.com/azlGlfpG95
— Leonardo Bertozzi (@lbertozzi) December 3, 2025
In total, the transactions – made between July 2024 and March 2025 – totaled a debt of 120 million euros (R$ 742.12 million, at current prices) to Lyon.
ESPN had already announced, in August this year, that Botafogo is charging Lyon for the transfers, stating that it had not received the value of the negotiations – which, on the other hand, were released by Eagle on the balance sheets of the teams in Brazil and France.
John Textor continues to preside over Botafogo’s SAF. In Lyon, despite being removed, Eagle Football Holdings remains in charge of the French team. However, businesswoman Michele Kang is in charge of operations, who took over after Textor’s departure.
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