Stefan Borson

Sun 20 April 2025 16:16, UK

Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor has been caught up in a legal battle after a new controversy has emerged. 

The American billionaire owns a 45 per cent share in Palace as well as majority stakes in French club Lyon, Brazilian first division outfit Botafogo and Belgian side RWD Molenbeek through Eagle Football Holdings.

The Telegraph reported on 11 April Textor is being sued for more than £6million at the High Court by Bruno Lage after Palace appointed Oliver Glasner as manager. 

Both men apparently signed a contract that stated Textor would use his connections to get ex-Wolves boss Lage appointed at Palace or Lyon last year, but neither job materialised before the agreement expired.

Lage, who previously managed Textor-owned Botafogo, is now in his second stint as Benfica boss.

A statement from Eagle Football Holdings said: “Eagle Football remains open to a constructive discussion with Bruno Lage or his representatives with a view to resolving the dispute and settling the litigation which will ultimately serve neither party.”

Finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider Textor is likely to agree a settlement with Lage worth millions to terminate the claim.

Palace currently sit 12th in the Premier League table under Glasner. 

John Textor made ‘weird’ Crystal Palace agreement

Borson insisted it’s “weird” Textor felt he was in a position to offer Lage the Palace job if the allegations are true. 

He told Football Insider: “I doubt it’s hopeless because it’s just such an odd case.

“I haven’t read the particulars of the claim, but you must have good grounds for saying that there was a binding contract that he would manage one of the teams.

“The weird thing is I can’t see how Texter was in a position to offer him the Palace job given that there are obviously other shareholders and other board members. 

“But then again, it wouldn’t surprise me if Texter did offer him the job, even though he couldn’t deliver it.

“That doesn’t seem to be completely beyond the realms of possibility.

“I suspect they’ll settle it. Texter did seem to say in his statement that he would try and find a way to settle it or that he wanted to have a constructive discussion, the sort of coded language for expecting to settle the litigation. 

“You would think he’ll end up paying him a few million pounds to terminate the claim.” 

Oliver Glasner set for Crystal Palace showdown talks

Football Insider revealed on 10 April Glasner is happy at Palace amid links with Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

It is believed the Austrian manager is preparing for talks over a new contract, with his current deal only set to run until June 2026.

Sources say Glasner is content at Palace after transforming their form from the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign.

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