News of developments surrounding a possible takeover of French team FC Girondins de Bordeaux through Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group (FSG) reached the UK today.
A potential deal between U. S. investors and Bordeaux owner Gérard Lopez (pictured) has been in the works for some time, but largely remains under wraps. Until today, the data in France only spoke of the mysterious interested party who wanted to buy the club as an “American investment fund, already established in the game and supported by one of the largest family budgets in the world”.
Bordeaux have recently played in Ligue 2, the second division of French football, after being relegated from Ligue 1 in recent years. In June 2022, Bordeaux were relegated to the third tier due to currency problems and appealed the decision.
The club is dependent on the DNCG (National Directorate of Management Control), the monetary monitoring framework of French football, and is subject to various sanctions. In January 2024, the DNCG imposed restrictions on the French club’s payroll and movement budget. These restrictions restrict Bordeaux’s ability to recruit new players or increase salaries, affecting their competitiveness.
In 2021, Lopez struck a deal to save Bordeaux from bankruptcy after previous owner King Street retired, but existing monetary restrictions imposed through the DNCG have left Lopez desperate to find a solution, opening the door for the sharks to capitalize on the club’s struggling situation.
When the FSG was surrounding the serious monetary turmoil at Anfield Liverpool in 2010, FSG leader John W. Henry wrote in an email to his partners: “I don’t need to say this beyond this small group, but if we can win this (Liverpool Football Club) for the debt, I really feel like we would be stealing this franchise.
Bordeaux is in a precarious monetary situation, facing new restrictions from the French football government and struggling to regain its former prestige in French football. The FSG recently appointed Michael Edwards to oversee the acquisition of the football club to continue its multi-club operations and Bordeaux could simply turn out to be a sensible purchase. Reports in France imply that Henry and FSG’s CTO, Julian Ward, were in France to work on the potential acquisition.
Although LFC’s exclusive hackers have warned in the past that FSG would likely target a South American soccer club, KOPTALK has maintained that Henry and company wanted a European team.
We understand that an informal offer has been made to Lopez that includes an initial promise of €42m to allow Bordeaux to compete in Ligue 2 next season. However, no formal offer or official agreement has yet been reached. Most likely, if a deal is closed, Lopez will remain at the club as a minority shareholder.
Former Liverpool midfielder Albert Riera will be appointed Bordeaux manager in 2023. He was previously a player on the team between 2003 and 2005.