Eric Abidal proposed to John Textor to become Lyon Sporting Director

Ex-Barcelona, Lyon and Monaco full-back Éric Abidal has been proposed to the CEO of Eagle Football, John Textor, who leads a multi-club football portfolio which includes a majority stake in Ligue 1 side Lyon, according to Sacha Tavolieri.

Textor is looking for a new Sporting Director at OL after he seized power from long-standing club president Jean-Michel Aulas two weeks ago.

Textor has decided that the quality of work achieved by current Head of Recruitment Bruno Cheyrou is insufficient, and is looking for a new leader on the sports side of the Rhône club to build out a department more focused on the utilisation of data analytics in player scouting. The job of long-standing CEO, Vincent Ponsot, is also under threat.

Textor had Abidal proposed to him as an option to fill this role by ex-Barcelona CEO Oscar Grau. Abidal, who held the position of Sporting Director with the Catalan giants between 2018 and 2020, was a player at Lyon between 2004 and 2007 and made 76 appearances for the club during that time.

As it currently stands, Textor is yet to make a decision on who should replace Cheyrou.

James Thorpe | GFFN

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