Kyril Louis-Dreyfus may have only been the owner of Sunderland for three years, but he’s already looking to buy another football club.
The 26-year-old became chairman of Sunderland in February 2021, and has helped turn the club’s fortunes around both on and off the pitch.
After the financial struggles under the previous Sunderland owners, and the club’s drop down to League One, drastic changes were needed on Wearside.
Now back in the Championship and thriving, Sunderland have promotion in their sights. So, let’s just hope Kyril Louis-Dreyfus isn’t about to get distracted.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus wants to buy Brazilian side Vasco da Gama
According to reports from Brazil and the highly-reputable UOL journalist, Paulo Vinicius Coelho, Louis-Dreyfus has his eyes set on purchasing Vasco da Gama.
The Brazilian club is currently owned by 777 Partners, the enterprise that tried and failed to purchase Everton recently. Vasco are currently in litigation, though, and there could be a big opportunity for a change of ownership.
Apparently, Vasco’s President, Pedrinho, claims a number of different parties have shown an interest in purchasing Vasco, but no formal offer has arrived yet. Louis-Dreyfus is thought to be among those taking a look at the project.
Pedrinho said: “There are several models and a lot can happen. There could be a businessman capable of investing in Vasco to become a champion, there could be people interested in having Vasco as a training centre for great young players.
“Or, an investor could want to invest money initially and decide to buy SAF after a period of one year, for example. There are no proposals for the purchase at this time.”
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What do we know about Vasco da Gama?
Aside from what we already mentioned about Vasco da Gama’s precarious situation with 777 Partners right now, it is worth noting the Brazilian outfit does have a couple of players English fans will know very well.
Both Philippe Coutinho and Dimitri Payet turn out for the side, after leaving Europe behind. It makes sense, given their South American heritage, that the pair would return to the continent in the latter stages of their playing career.
Vasco finished 10th last season in the Brazilian Serie A league, slap-bang in the middle of the table. While not the biggest or most successful side in Brazil, Vasco are a solid, well-respected team with fairly strong foundations for success, if the right owner came along.
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What would it mean for Sunderland if Kyril Louis-Dreyfus did buy Vasco da Gama?
As Vasco president, Pedrinho, hinted, a new owner may well look at the club as a potential breeding ground for new talent. That could mean the Sunderland squad ends up getting an injection of Brazilian youngsters in the future, which is usually a good thing.
It could also mean that Sunderland academy prospects get the opportunity of a lifetime, to head out to Brazil on loan and get first-team experience in a totally different culture.
Either way, it feels like a win-win for Sunderland, as long as Louis-Dreyfus doesn’t find himself stretched too thin between his duties to both clubs.