Two of football's most prominent multi-club owners have admitted they 'adjust' transfer fees when dealing between their respective teams to maintain a strong working relationship. Evangelos Marinakis, owner of Nottingham Forest, and John Textor, whose Eagle Football Holdings controls Lyon and Botafogo, have engaged in a significant number of player trades in recent years.
A Global Football Partnership
John Textor, who sold his 43 per cent stake in Crystal Palace for £190 million in June, has described Marinakis as a key 'partner' in the football world. Their network spans continents: Marinakis owns Olympiacos in Greece and Rio Ave in Portugal alongside Nottingham Forest. Textor's Eagle Football holds Lyon in France and a controlling stake in Brazilian side Botafogo.
Textor explained the strategic value of this alliance to a Botafogo fans' YouTube channel, Canal do TF. He emphasised the desire for a strong club in Brazil, Europe, and the UK, noting Marinakis's belief in Brazilian talent. "He has effectively become that partner," Textor stated.
Negotiations and 'Adjustments'
The core of the revelation centres on how transfer values are agreed upon between their clubs. Textor was clear that players are not sold at discounted 'mates' rates', but he admitted fees are negotiated with the long-term partnership in mind. Nine players have moved between their clubs in the last three years—four from Textor's clubs to Marinakis's and five in the opposite direction.
"You have to understand that you do your best to allocate the transfer price on an athlete-by-athlete basis," Textor said. "But you also understand that if you have a large relationship... you sometimes agree to another owner’s perception of value, sometimes forfeiting your own." He framed this as a normal part of ongoing business between trusted parties.
Notable Transfers and Reactions
Recent deals include:
- Igor Jesus moving from Botafogo to Nottingham Forest for £16.5m this summer.
- Danilo transferring from Forest to Botafogo for a reported £22m.
- Moussa Niakhate's £27m move from Forest to Lyon last year.
- Goalkeeper Matt Turner joining Lyon from Forest for £6.9m before a loan to New England Revolution.
Textor cited Igor Jesus's injury history as the reason for his fee, joking you feel "really stupid" when such a player excels. A source at Nottingham Forest told The Times the club was "perplexed" by Textor's comments, insisting all deals with Botafogo were at fair market value.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Defence
While there is no suggestion of breaching Premier League rules—which assesses all transfers over £1 million—the trading pattern has drawn attention. Football law expert Marc Shrimpling noted it is "uncharted water" and that competitions may need to weigh intervention against allowing collaboration that could help smaller clubs compete.
Textor vehemently defended the relationship. "It's my money," he snapped, objecting to any notion of a "sinister relationship." He argued his strategy creates a pathway for Brazilian talent into top leagues, a point of pride. "You can watch a Premier League game between Leeds United and Nottingham Forest and see Botafogo players on both sides of the pitch. And that’s never happened before," he said.
Both Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace were contacted by Daily Mail Sport but offered no comment on the matter.
