CRYSTAL PALACE co-owner John Textor is being sued for £6million by former Wolves boss Bruno Large, according to reports
The extraordinary lawsuit reported by The Telegraph sees Lage, who never worked for the Eagles, suing Textor following the appointment of Oliver Glasner.
He accuses the American businessman of signing a contract stating he would use his power as the largest shareholder at Selhurst Park and French giants Lyon to offer him the head coach role to at one of those teams.
The alleged contract covers the period between January 1 to April 15 last year and was signed after Lage became manager of Textor’s Brazilian side Botafogo.
Lage, now in his second spell managing Portuguese side Benfica, was sacked less than three months into a six-month deal in July 2023 in what was his first job after being sacked by Wolves in October 2022 following a 16-month spell in charge.
The Portuguese was never publicly linked with the Palace job and the South London club ultimately appointed Glasner in February 2024 when Roy Hodgson stepped down after he was taken ill during training days before.
Meanwhile, Lyon made Pierre Sage their new boss in July after appointing him as an interim manager the previous November.
After being sacked by Botafogo Lage remained out of work during the alleged “restricted period” before taking the Benfica job.
Documents seen by The Telegraph claim a “retainment agreement” signed by Textor would offer Lage a minimum of a two-year fixed-term contract with a salary of £3.6million for him and his staff.
The “legally binding” contract also states Eagle Football Holdings would pay Lage that amount by April 29 last year if he failed to make such an offer during the agreed period.
Lage, 48, is also claiming interest, costs and “further or other relief as the court deems fit,” to a total amount of £5.9m.
The lawsuit also claims the deal included a clause which would see Lage pay Textor £2.75m if he took a managerial role other than with one of Palace or Lyon during the same period.
A statement from Eagle Football Holdings on the matter said: “Eagle Football is aware of a court claim filed against it on behalf of Bruno Silva Do Nascimento (known as ‘Bruno Lage’).
“The claim relates to a dispute over the proper interpretation of a historical agreement between Eagle and Mr Lage. Eagle’s view is that Mr Lage is not contractually entitled to the sums being claimed on his behalf.
“Accordingly, Eagle will vigorously defend the claim and seek to recover its costs of doing so from Mr Lage.
“Eagle Football notes that Bruno Lage’s claim relates to an alleged failure to offer him a role at one of its clubs.
“Eagle Football finds it curious that Bruno Lage feels aggrieved by this given that, as was widely reported, he effectively walked away from one of Eagle Football’s clubs Botafogo.
“Eagle Football remains open to a constructive discussion with Bruno Lage or his representatives with a view to resolving the dispute and settling the litigation which will ultimately serve neither party.”
Textor, 59, announced in May he was trying to sell his 45 per cent stake in Palace after declaring interest in buying fellow Premier League side Everton.
The bid ultimately ended in failure due to the bid resting on Eagle Football Holdings losing its stake in a rival team.
Crystal Palace currently sit 11th in the Premier League, four points behind rivals Brighton in ninth, and are in the FA Cup semi-finals against Aston Villa later this month.
They face Manchester City away tomorrow morning but have not lost a football game since February 15, a 2-1 defeat at home to Everton.
Read the full article here
