Speculations by Spezia owners about Botto and the million dollar clause

In the roughly nine months that he has been in the position of PAOK’s sporting director, Mr Jose Botohe was linked several times with different groups abroad to take on similar roles and positions.

Last year, the Portuguese denied any scenario. This year they made a mistake and added another link in the chain, as reported in Italy yesterday that Spezia have Botto among the candidates to succeed Riccardo Peccini, who has resigned as the Italian club’s CEO.

According to his information Sportish, the American owner of Spezia, Robert Platek, directly targeted Botto. At the same time, the PAOK management was informed of the corresponding interest, with the “Adler” employees confirming with this notification the existence of a corresponding exit clause in the Portuguese contract (until summer 2024) in the amount of 1 million euros, the payment of which in the event of a further Movement from Spezia was clearly required.

A clause which – for example – in the event of Boto’s withdrawal, will only be removed by mutual agreement of the two contracting parties (PAOK – Boto). Something that essentially constitutes the “double-headed” insurance check valve after paying Shakhtar €500,000 last December to “break” Botto’s contract with the “miners” there and then come to Thessaloniki.

It is unknown what impact the existence of this clause will have on Botto’s candidacy and apparently on how Spezia officials evaluate it. In any case, they are now aware of PAOK’s intentions (and) and what their eventual selection and decision to include Botto in the club’s org chart entails.