It could have been THE big blow of this winter transfer window.
This Friday, John Textor confirmed the rumors which reported, during the month of January, an interest from Olympique Lyonnais for Karim Benzema.
More concretely, the American businessman explained that he tried to take advantage of the delicate situation of the 2022 Ballon d'Or in Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) to bring him back to the Rhône, where he was trained and where it exploded.
“
I’ve been through this situation before.
These are 1% possibilities.
This has not been a distraction for the football department.
But if we are not attentive to these special situations, where the planets can align and where you can have an unexpected talent… If I am not careful, I am not doing my job
,” confided the boss of Eagle Football.
“
We spoke to people in Saudi Arabia.
I asked the question.
We had discussions with the club (Al-Ittihad, editor’s note).
But nothing came of it.
»
John Textor
To achieve his goals, the Lyon president tried to establish his relations: “
I have relations with certain countries, with certain Gulf States.
I knew they had a problem with the player, I didn't know the reasons.
I read the same things in the press as you
, he said.
We spoke to people in Saudi Arabia.
I asked the question.
We had discussions with the club (Al-Ittihad, editor’s note).
But nothing came of it.
» Before specifying: “
But if I have the chance and the opportunity to take advantage of unique circumstances to achieve the impossible as an owner, then I will take my chance.
» It will perhaps be for next summer...
SEE ALSO -
Nemanja Matic's first words at Olympique Lyonnais