Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis wants to join hands with former Crystal Palace owner John Textor to take control of Botafogo.
The Greek businessman currently owns Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos and Rio Alve. He’s looking at add another club to his stable.
In March, Textor lost his controlling stake in Eagle Football Holdings Limited, who have stakes at Botafogo and RWDM Brussels. They sold their minority stake at Crystal Palace to Woody Johnson.
The Nottingham Forest owner and the American have close ties and carried out transfers involving their clubs in the past.
Textor wants Nottingham Forest owner’s support
John Textor’s holding company acquired 90% of the Brazilian club’s rights in February 2022. Earlier this year, he lost control of Eagle Football Holdings Limited after their main US creditor put their UK-based holding company into administration.
In June, Sport Witness covered a report from Brazil explaining that Nottingham Forest’s Evangelos Marinakis is interested in buying Botafogo.
Following the drama and the financial crisis, Botafogo’s social members took action in July, to take a 51% stake, diluting Eagle Football Holdings’ shares to 49%. A Florida court voided it in September, reclaiming Textor’s 90% stake at the club.
Despite receiving a judgment in Textor’s favour in Florida, the same didn’t happen in Brazil. The saga involving the Botafogo ownership carries on.
There have been rumours of Textor’s involvement in Rio Alve, a Portuguese club owned by the Nottingham Forest owner.
No Textor involvement in Rio Ave
Commentator Ricardo Azambuja contacted John Textor to find out whether he has any part at Rio Ave.
FogãoNET have relayed his comments, during he also explained Evangelos Marinakis’ desire to invest in Botafogo. The outlet also states the former Crystal Palace owner is refusing to give up on the South American club.
“Information about Rio Ave and Textor. I received an indication that Textor was in charge of Rio Ave, in Portugal. I went to check directly with him if the information was correct,” he said.
“Textor denied being in charge of the Portuguese club, but stated that he and Marinakis are patiently awaiting a solution to Botafogo’s situation and are ready to take over the club and fully finance it.
“He also made it clear that, if the courts continue to create obstacles (his view, okay?), investments will be directed to other clubs, without ruling out a possible return to Botafogo in the future. In Textor’s view, the social club will eventually collapse sooner or later.”
