Despite the financial difficulties experienced by Olympique Lyonnais, its majority shareholder, Eagle Football Holdings, refuses a Benfica Lisbon offer for Thiago Almada. This situation is particularly delicate for the club, which, while considering players leaving for significant sums, does not want to sell its talents at low prices. Benfica initially proposed EUR 35 million for the Argentine midfielder, who returned to Botafogo after his Lyon loan, but this proposal was immediately rejected. The Portuguese club does not give up and plans a new offer estimated at 40 million euros, leaving the future of world champion 2022 uncertain for the next season and away from OL.

Thiago Almada demonstrated her potential in her half season in Lyon, with two goals and four assists in twenty appearances. His loan ended on June 30, and his contract with Botafogo extended until 2029. OL holds the player’s economic rights, which is of great interest to the club, especially since it has already invested more than 91 million euros in the acquisition of player rights such as Almada, Igor Jesus and Luiz Henrique. Discussions between OL and Benfica have intensified recently, and a sale could be financially advantageous for the Lyon club, despite the sums already committed.

In parallel to this situation, OL was marked by the death of Bernard Lacombe, an emblematic figure of the club, on 17 June. Many tributes were paid to the former attacker, player, coach and leader, until the funeral on June 25. The Métropole de Lyon is studying the possibility of renaming the Plaine des Jeux de Gerland in the Bernard Lacombe stadium, a proposal studied by the town hall. For its part, OL envisages the creation of a new fresco in his honour on the Grand Stade, in consultation with the Lacombe family and the seven-time champions of France. A more formal tribute is also planned in the first home match of the 2025-2026 season.