Botafogo probes ex-owner Textor over alleged use of player transfers to repay personal debt

Published Jul 23, 09:27 PM UTC

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Brazilian club Botafogo is investigating former owner John Textor for allegedly using player transfers to Nottingham Forest to repay a personal loan of $50 million from Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. The club suspects that transfers of Igor Jesus, Jair, and Cuiabano were undervalued. Specifically, Cuiabano was reportedly sold for $4 million despite a $10 million offer from Brighton, and only $10 million of the $20 million from Jair's transfer was accounted for. Botafogo is analyzing documents and considering legal action against Textor, who also faces allegations of tax debt related to unpaid employee salary taxes, potentially constituting embezzlement.

Source report

Botafogo is closely examining transfer operations conducted with Nottingham Forest. According to information reported by Fogão, the Brazilian club is analyzing several documents and suspects its former owner, John Textor, of using the transfers of Igor Jesus, Jair, and Cuiabano to the English club to repay a personal loan of $50 million taken out from Evangelos Marinakis, owner of Nottingham Forest.

Key Allegations

Botafogo believes several sales were concluded at amounts below their actual market value.
Cuiabano was reportedly sold to Nottingham Forest for $4 million, despite a $10 million offer from Brighton.
Only $10 million of the $20 million from Jair's transfer were accounted for.

Legal Considerations

The club is now considering legal action against John Textor. He is also facing scrutiny over a tax debt related to the non-payment of employee salary taxes — facts that could be classified as embezzlement.

Updated on July 23, 2026 — 23:24 UTC

Content shown outside its original language is machine translated; summaries may also be condensed.

Source

Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot TransfertWestern

Original headline: Botafogo soupçonne John Textor d’avoir utilisé des transferts pour rembourser une dette personnelle

Original language: FR

Part of this Story

Botafogo Suspects Former Owner John Textor of Using Player Transfers to Repay Personal Debt

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People and interests

Nottingham Forest Brighton Brazil