John Textor, the Crystal Palace shareholder and latest bidder for Everton, has made the remarkable claim that Tottenham Hotspur’s £1 billion stadium is “too nice”.
Spurs’ arena is widely recognised as one of the most impressive modern Premier League venues, but in an interview with Sky Sports News, the American businessman said he was unimpressed.
“I don’t like Tottenham. I go into that stadium, and I think it’s too nice,” said Textor.
“I remember the first couple of games I went there and the people I was with were in this banquet hall, and I thought ‘this isn’t football’ and I really believe that.
“It’s way too nice a stadium for football.”
Textor’s remarks follow his claim that he is close to selling his shares in Palace to pursue a deal with Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri.
Moshiri is engaged in a prolonged sales process and has previously granted exclusivity to bidders 777 partners and the Friedkin Group, owners of AS Roma. Neither party was able to conclude a deal.
Textor claims he is now engaging in exclusivity talks.
Moshiri’s financial situation has deteriorated in a large part because of the huge investment in the club’s new stadium which, at a conservative estimate, will cost £500 million. The team will relocate to an impressive venue on Liverpool’s docks at the start of next season and the venue is being regarded as a beacon of hope during a turbulent period on and off the pitch.
‘I would stay at Goodison forever’
Textor, however, says that given the choice he would rather Everton stayed at Goodison Park, referencing the match in which the team fought off relegation under Frank Lampard with a comeback win over Palace in May 2022.
“I remember as an owner of Crystal Palace watching them have one of the best games they’ve had in a long time under Patrick Vieira against Everton,” said Textor.
“We were 2-0 up but then Everton came out and turned it around.
“People were running all over the stadium and I was sat just above the dugout. I was thinking, ‘what a weird stadium, what a weird layout... but what a beautiful stadium’. It’s like going to Fenway Park where you have a big pole in front of you. You can’t see the field but it’s what’s beautiful about it.
“For me, I would still be interested in Everton if they were playing on a pitch next to Goodison Park. I would stay at Goodison forever, but investors are clearly supportive because when we talk about the capital that I have to buy the club, I do believe I can take this squad well beyond its current level of competitiveness alone.
“But let’s face it, we don’t want Everton to be bouncing around eighth place forever. We want to win a title, and so to do that you need serious capital. I’ve always been very good at accessing it in my life and the stadium is huge in that respect.”