Florentino Pérez, the recently elected big-spending president of Real Madrid, wants a European Super League and is ready to take on Uefa if they do not adapt the Champions League to better suit the ambitions of the biggest clubs. ‘We have to agree a new European Super League which guarantees that the best always play the best – something that does not happen in the Champions League,’ Perez said on Spanish television. He indicated he would push for a breakaway ‘closed shop’ competition if Uefa does not consider his proposal.
Florentino Pérez, the recently elected big-spending president of Real Madrid, wants a European Super League and is ready to take on Uefa if they do not adapt the Champions League to better suit the ambitions of the biggest clubs. ‘We have to agree a new European Super League which guarantees that the best always play the best – something that does not happen in the Champions League,’ Perez said on Spanish television. He indicated he would push for a breakaway ‘closed shop’ competition if Uefa does not consider his proposal. He says that he does not want to replace domestic competitions, just guarantee that top clubs could rely on participating every season in a lucrative elite competition, no matter where they finish in their domestic league.
The last serious attempt to form a rebel European league in the late 1990s was led by A C Milan. Uefa responded by offering more Champions League places to clubs from the stronger domestic competitions, notably England, Italy and Spain.
Potential members of such a league include:
- England – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United
- Italy – AC Milan, Internazionale, Juventus
- Spain – Barcelona, Real Madrid
- Scotland – Celtic, Rangers
- One each from France (Lyons); Germany (Bayern Munich); Greece (Olympiakos); Portugal (Porto)