North American millionaire John Textor was greeted as a messiah last week when he landed in Rio de Janeiro to take over one of the Brazilmost famous club.
Botafogo Having supplied many big names to World Cup winners in 1958, 1962 and 1970 – the mighty Garrincha, for example, and his successors Jairzinho, centre-back Didi and spotless left-back Nilton Santos, the people for whom their stadium is named. But very few players anywhere near that stature have worn the black and white striped kit that has become famous in recent years. True, Botafogo had just won promotion back to the first division, but since their last national win in 1995, they have been left reeling, engulfed in debts that threaten the very existence of the game. club.
The desperate measures have brought about changes, with Botafogo taking advantage of the new law to make it easier for clubs to transform into businesses. Instead of the traditional model of a social club with a president elected by members, Botafogo now has an owner, with Textor confirming the deal giving him a 90% stake.
– Viewer Guide + ESPN: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more
There is an obvious question here; This is undeniably a business. So where will the profits come from?
The early signs are very clear. Instead of making money from Brazilian football, it looks like Textor has a plan to make money from Brazilian players.
Textor is putting together a global club catalog. He has 80% shares of Molenbeek in the Belgian second division, he owns 40% Crystal Palace in the Premier League, and he is currently in talks to buy shares in the Portuguese giants Benfica.
This seems to be a new idea in owning multiple clubs. There is no obvious “top of the pyramid” club, in the way that City of Manchester Head of the City Youth Union. It could also be because the goal – the main profit – is to sell players to Man City.
Talent can be developed in Brazil, trained through Belgium and perhaps Portugal, and then if they do shine at Palace, they will be the target of the Premier League giants – and here it is. where some of the biggest transfer fees are paid.
One clue that this was the plan came from recruiting journalist Raphael Rezende as head of the reconnaissance department. Rezende stands out for his composure in his analyses, unaffected by outrageous nationalism. Rezende patiently explained why they see it as such a step forward, that top class football requires quicker decision making and execution. He has a good eye, and an eye for the type of player that can succeed in Europe.
If this is a Textor project, could it be considered expropriation? Unnecessary.
This is Rio last night as @botafogo fans celebrate @JohnTextor get closer to running the show at that club. pic.twitter.com/00sL85aXXM
– Juan Arango (@JuanG_Arango) January 14, 2022
This seems to be the most logical project for a contemporary South American football club. On a grand scale, it’s essentially the model followed by Botafogo’s Rio giant, Flamengo. They grow and sell babies to Europe – Vinicius Junior, Lucas Paqueta, Reinier – financing a deep squad with two types of players returning from Europe; veterans returning home from successful careers across the Atlantic, and those in their 20s who have yet to establish themselves in Europe. When Flamengo played the Copa Libertadores final at the end of November, not a single member of the squad started under the age of 25.
Some of the proceeds from the sale of Botafogo players can then be recycled into the team – and to shine, those young stars benefit from being part of a competitive unit. So it’s in Textor’s interest to make sure that this side is stronger than it’s been in recent years. But can it fulfill fans’ dreams and lead to trophies? This is more complicated.
Most likely one of the role models for Textor is Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle. Located on the outskirts of Quito, they were taken over by a businessman 15 years ago and embarked on a project to develop and sell players. They were remarkably successful – and to their surprise, along the way they discovered that they could also compete for titles. They beat both River Plate and Boca Juniors on their way to the 2016 Copa Libertadores final, they won the Copa Sudamericana in 2019 and last year – while selling players throughout the campaign – they secured their first win. for Ecuador. championship.
So two things – selling players and winning titles – can be done together. However, it is much harder in Brazil, where there is competition from giants like Flamengo, Palmeiras and Atletico Mineiro.
And there is something else. Independiente del Valle has a small support base. Their numbers are growing, but there is no glorious past to compare with today. This is the best it’s ever had.
That doesn’t apply to Botafogo. Their fan base is not large. It goes nowhere like Vasco da Gama, let alone Flamengo. But it’s passionate and loud, it has grown from stories of true greatness and some of them are dreaming of conquests to come. This means that there are populist pressures around that can put a strain on the relationship between Textor and fans. Those who praised him last week are likely to turn their backs on him in the future. The new era can be tumultuous.
