Derby County continue to appear on the edges of the Brazilian coverage around John Textor. Luckily, the English club is still only a backdrop to an internal dispute that has now escalated inside Botafogo.
Earlier in the week, Globo Esporte revealed a leaked audio claiming the American tried to move four Botafogo players to Derby as part of his attempt to build goodwill while assessing a possible purchase. Now, a court decision in Rio has made any such move far harder.
According to the same outlet, Botafogo’s social association won a ruling that forces Textor’s Eagle Football ownership group to report any player sale to both the judge and the social side of the club before it can go ahead.
The ownership group can still sell players, but only with this extra layer of approval. The decision also affects any financial transaction with sporting impact, which could slow down Botafogo’s planning for 2026.
Textor responded by calling an international meeting with directors from Eagle Football, asking them to find a quick solution to the dispute. His concern, Globo Esporte note, is that delays could affect squad building and cash flow at the start of next year.
For Derby County, the relevance of this dispute is simple. The earlier claims suggested Textor once tried to send Botafogo players to the Rams as part of his effort to buy into English football again. With the new restrictions, any similar manoeuvre with Derby County has become far more complicated.
It adds another obstacle at a moment when his interest in acquiring a club in England remains a recurring topic in the Brazilian press.
