The financial situation that Lille are facing is having a big effect on AC Milan’s pursuit of Sven Botman and Renato Sanches, a report claims.
As has been reported in France by L’Equipe, the Botman and Sanches deals are well underway but a decision needs to be taken by the board of directors which affects the transfers.
The DNCG is a body that annually checks the finances of every French club and Lille are in poor financial shape. There are effectively two different paths which are put forward by different people.
There is Oliver Letang who is the CEO, and there is Marilyn Partners, the controlling fund. If Letang’s proposal of how to fix things wins, the sales of Botman and Sanches should take place by the end of June to reach a positive net worth.
If the Marilyn Partners path is chosen, the deals will be postponed until July in order to have that revenue factored into next season’s budgets rather than the season just gone.
We are fucked
Former Lille owner borrowed 225 millions from Elliott in order to run the club. Since he could not repay the loan, Elliott took over the club and sold it to Merlyn Fund afterwards. After winning League 1, Lille now face uncertain future under Merlyn fund as their financial picture is far from healthy. They are selling off half of the team.
This all sounds too familiar – Elliott seizes the club from Yonghong Li, wins Serie A and are sold to RedBird)
The difference here is.. we have Maldini and everyone who is investing in football, knows the Brand of Milan will be a money printing machine even with moderate success due to massive and extremely passionate fanbase.
Also Merlyn fun has no experience in Sports. They are just business people who thought the shares of Lille will go up and that’s about it.
Redbird on the other hand, specializes in sports investment and they know how to run Massive sports brands.