American billionaire Textor plans global transfer network to beat the system
Textor’s interests include Brazilian club Botafogo, Premier League side Crystal Palace, French Ligue 1's Olympique Lyonnais and Belgian second division club Molenbeek. He is also looking closely at Portugal.
His plan is to beat the system dominated by the big European clubs, by developing young talent from North and South America.
"If I can find 11 players that are better than the players you can buy, I can beat you," Textor told Reuters.
"Who is going to care about these leagues 20 years from now if it's the same winner every time? Whether it's Russian oligarchs or Saudi, Qatar or Abu Dhabi state owned clubs, the concentration of wealth... How does the rest of the world compete?
"I want to build a fabric of collaborative clubs in countries that were respected because players from the top markets do get to migrate more fluidly around the world."
Brazil has become an obsession for Textor, who has owned a youth soccer academy in Florida since 2008. He believes that, despite being the biggest talent producer in the world, Brazil still has very little scouting and an underdeveloped academy system.
"I'm trying to open up these pathways so that I can unlock massive resources of talent that are not in the system," Textor said.
"I see players in North America as having a tougher time moving around the world system of soccer.
"So you have thousands upon thousands of very talented players that are never going to be part of world football. I wanted to have clubs at each one of these environments where if I meet a kid in South or North America it’s an easier path."
STRUGGLING CLUB
The outspoken Textor had become a celebrity in Brazil after he bought the majority shareholding in Botafogo, a famous but struggling club.
Textor is investing millions in building new facilities and has appeared regularly in local media as well as interacting with fans on social media to reassure them about his intentions.
"You've got to be passionate about it. You must love it. I love football. I'd watch 200 games a year from the grass," Textor said.
"I see some of the biggest soccer clubs as being economic underachievers. How is it possible that Manchester United has 500 million followers out there and they only do 600 million a year in revenue?
"Soccer clubs are incredibly important to people, but they haven't really connected with their audience beyond the game in the matchday and the merchandise. That's why I came to this. I believe that no idea matters unless a billion people see it and use it."
Before moving into the business of developing digital human likeness with Facebank, Inc., the 56-year-old Missouri native made his name in a long career in Hollywood and show business as a virtual reality guru.
He won an Oscar for aging Brad Pitt by decades with visual effects in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
"I enjoy businesses that are tied to the community," Textor said. "Use capitalism as force of good to help people and help communities.
"And football is more tied to community than any sport or business I've ever seen."