From John Textor in the text. Questioned by Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Gauthier Ganaye, former general manager of RWDM Molenbeek, owned by the American businessman, spoke about the unusual methods of his former president, particularly during the off-season in 2024.
Having just been relegated to the Belgian second division at the end of a nightmare season (5 victories in 30 matches), the players of the Belgian club were then on training. Gauthier Ganaye took the opportunity to call John Textor and ask him to come visit them.
🦅🇺🇸 “Don’t you understand?!” I ONLY go where there is HAPPINESS! » 😮
🔴⚫️ The revelations of @GGanaye on John Textor, including this day when the Texan refused to visit the RWDM players during the offseason training camp.
🔗 TO SEE HERE ⤵️#weaver #rwdm #JPL #eagle #OL pic.twitter.com/rxlaxKsMHe
— Sacha Tavolieri (@sachatavolieri) November 2, 2025
“I think it would be very beneficial for you to come.” Come for a day, no more. We have a barbecue with the players, you say a little word to them. It’s important, you know that they feel… They see you on TV, in Lyon, in Botafogo, acting stupid and everything, but you’re not there. »
A proposal that John Textor will refuse, claiming a reason that is at least… peculiar. “But, Gauthier, you haven’t yet understood who I was,” replies the former owner of Olympique Lyonnais. I only go where there is happiness. This is a shitty situation. I don’t want to go there. I’m going to Lyon, to Botafogo: I’m going where there is happiness. »
“A diametrically opposed vision”
Known for his sometimes fanciful attitude, the 60-year-old had already appeared in cowboy attire before a Lyon match, a few days after being described as such by PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. Or even in the company of two young women in a nightclub in Rio de Janeiro this summer, while OL was sinking financially at the same time.
“We have a diametrically opposed vision of what the role of manager of a company is, without even talking about football,” said Gauthier Ganaye. It’s about being there when things are shit. It’s not about being there when everything is going well. It’s about being there when things are not going well and people need to see that you are the shield, that you believe in it, that you are standing and that it is up to you to lead the others. »
