Farhad Moshiri responded indirectly to John Textor’s comments as Everton navigates its complex ownership situation. Textor, who owns a stake in Crystal Palace, expressed his interest in acquiring Everton but noted that challenges remained such as needing to divest his stake in Palace. However, his statements about being close to completing a deal were met with caution from Everton. The club issued a statement saying that while there had been discussions with Textor, there was still work to be done, suggesting that his remarks represented personal views rather than formal progress.
Meanwhile, Moshiri had already entered advanced negotiations with Dan Friedkin, an American billionaire who owns AS Roma. The Friedkin Group is on the verge of purchasing Moshiri’s 94.1% stake in Everton, which would end Moshiri’s eight-year tenure as owner. This development seems to have outpaced Textor’s bid, effectively sidelining him from the race to take control of the club. With the deal with Friedkin expected to be completed by the end of 2024, Moshiri’s response to Textor’s comments was reflected more in action than words—by pursuing a concrete agreement with Friedkin that would stabilize Everton’s finances and help reduce the club’s debt【12†source】【13†source】.
Textor’s ambitions, including his desire to keep Everton at Goodison Park rather than moving to the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, are now unlikely to materialize as the Friedkin takeover progresses. Friedkin’s involvement includes plans to provide capital support to complete the stadium and resolve financial issues, contrasting with Textor’s approach, which appeared less certain.
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