It’s no secret that relations between Nasser Al-Khelaifi and John Textor are frosty. This summer, the president of PSG and that of OL disagreed on several subjects and especially on the management of TV rights. At the time, this issue had strained all of French football as the LFP seemed lost in its choices. John Textor had proposed the idea of a platform specific to the LFP to broadcast its championship while NAK was pushing instead for a deal with BeIN Sports And DAZN. A conflict of interest according to the American president who had slammed his fist on the table more than once.
This Saturday evening,Team made big revelations about the relationship between the two men. The French daily also confirms that the relationship is completely broken between them. It began this summer with the management of the Rayan Cherki file who, very close to PSG, had decided to back out at the last minute. And this clash continued with this famous management of TV rights. The first episode began with a letter addressed to OL, signed by Victoriano Melero, general director of PSG and validated by Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, to fire John Textor after an interview with the American owner on Globo. “You falsely claim that PSG has ‘a pattern of rampant, unrestrained spending’ while you appear to ignore the fact that your own club has had significant problems with UEFA and the DNCG under your leadership. (…) We will no longer waste time dissecting the flaws and contradictions of your savage attacks against PSG” notably written by Melero.
Big clash between the two presidents
This animosity was also felt via SMS. The French daily was thus able to obtain some exchanges between John Textor and Nasser Al-Khelaïfi at the time of the TV rights crisis. “I need to talk to you about the TV rights situation. I am kept informed via Laurent (editor’s note: Prud’homme, the general director of OL), but I would like to hear from you directly on a few subjects” wrote John Textor before seeing a curt response from NAK. “Your guy really doesn’t understand anything about TV rights, know that, have a good day. » The president of PSG then continued. “I’ll never talk to you again and I don’t want to see you anymore.” Learn how to run a club and media, this is the last time I let you talk to me. »
For his part, John Textor had also decided to attack his interlocutor. “I’m comfortable with your decision.” You always say that you save everyone, which is just megalomaniacal behavior. The lack of parity in our Championship destroys the attractiveness of the league. (…) Do you think that the PSG ad insertions, during an OL match (on beIN), are appropriate? » The Parisian president’s response to these tense exchanges could not be clearer: “you don’t understand anything about football and I’m wasting my time talking to you. You will lose wherever you go. » Proof of the enormous tension between the two men. And with a PSG-OL this Sunday then a PSG-Botafogo during the Club World Cup next July, it risks being even more spicy between the two presidents who have been dodging each other since this summer.
