Reports in England say John Textor wants to buy Wolves for £165m. The Premier League club sit near the bottom of the table.
In Brazil, however, Botafogo, his main project, faces a much deeper crisis. That contrast raises doubts about his ability to take on another team.
According to Globo Esporte, Botafogo need R$350 million (£55m) just to cover the first half of 2026. The club plans to cut 30% of its wage bill. It also struggles to pay bonuses from the Club World Cup.
With those problems in mind, both Botafogo and Wolves fans ask one question: how can Textor afford a new club?
John Textor
The mysterious investor
The report explains that he has a secret investor backing the Wolves move. This investor’s funds are strictly limited to buying an English club. None of the money can go to Botafogo.
Textor believes a Premier League side would strengthen his Eagle Football network. The group already owns Lyon and RWD Molenbeek.
He argues that a club in England would create a clear pathway from South America to Europe, helping attract young players.
Ownership limits
His partner in this venture is not an obvious choice. His close ally Evangelos Marinakis, owner of Nottingham Forest, cannot join the deal. Premier League rules forbid any person from holding stakes in two clubs.
Globo Esporte also reports that Wolves rejected Textor’s first offer, even though he offered to pay upfront. Talks are still ongoing. If they fail, Eagle Football could be forced to target a Championship side instead – which he already did.
Day to day in Rio
Botafogo remain trapped in a financial crisis. Textor says he cannot send money because of his legal fight with Ares Management, the fund that helped him buy Lyon.
The dispute blocked a planned €100m loan and stopped him from creating a new holding in the Cayman Islands. Without that structure, no new capital has reached the club.
Textor claims Lyon owe Botafogo money and insists his hands are tied until the conflict ends. Meanwhile, Botafogo fall further behind on and off the pitch.
The club are not yet sure of a spot in the 2026 Copa Libertadores. Revenues have dropped sharply after losing the £23m prize from last season’s Club World Cup.
The bigger picture
Textor argues that buying an English club would benefit all his teams. He sees it as a way to move players more easily between continents. But for Wolves fans, the Brazilian example is worrying.
The current state of Botafogo shows how fragile and complex Eagle Football’s system has become. Whether that model can steady a Premier League club is still unclear.