Prospective new Everton owner John Textor says succeeding Farhad Moshiri would be akin to becoming President of the United States.
In August, the 58-year-old digital entrepreneur confirmed in a statement his intention to sell his 45 per cent stake in Crystal Palace “so that we can pursue a relationship with the Everton club and community”.
Textor has a number of stakes in other clubs, including Ligue 1 club Lyon, Brazilian side Botafogo and Belgian club Molenbeek through his company Eagle Football Holdings.
Everton majority shareholder Moshiri has granted a period of exclusivity to the American but any deal is dependent on the would-be buyer selling his stake in Palace, as Premier League rules prohibit individuals from owning more than one team.
In an extensive interview with Sky Sports News reporter Alan Myers, Textor says he feels a deal is close to being reached – and is confident of it being completed before the November 30 deadline set in his exclusivity agreement…
“The word ‘buy’ is always a weird one when it comes to football clubs. It provokes a discomfort in me every time because imagine going out and saying [to a fan], ‘hey, I just bought your club’.
“I had someone ask me the same question when I bought Botafogo. These clubs have been legendary long before we were alive, walking on this earth.
“You know the opportunity to step into these situations, you know you are only a caretaker. You see documentaries on the history of these clubs and people who have gone before you… you know you’re never going to rise to their level in the eyes of the community of these clubs.
“Nobody wakes up and thinks, ‘I get to buy Everton’. But if you decide football is what you want in your life, and then somebody comes along and asks you if you want to become the owner of Everton, it’s like someone asking you if you want to be President of the United States. Of course you do.
