The horizon of a Super League shakes football again

Before announcing his resignation as president of Barcelona, ​​Josep Maria Bartomeu launched an ordeal that has convulsed the football industry: “I can announce that we have already approved the requirements to be part of a European Super League.

The decision to play the competition must be ratified by the next Assembly ”.

The aforementioned requirements were signed by the already outgoing Barça directive and sent by email to the working group that coordinates a project that, according to various sources consulted, is promoted by Real Madrid and Manchester United and strongly supported by Barcelona, ​​the Milan and Liverpool.

Other European superpowers such as Bayern Munich, Manchester City and PSG have not moved or are waiting, but they know the project and believe that sooner or later the business will light up the tournament.

Two European clubs consulted also point to Juventus as one of the promoters, if not this way, of another similar one capitalized by the European Club Association (ECA) and less belligerent and disruptive with UEFA, the great victim by the plan as an organizer of the Champions League.

“Bartomeu dropped a bomb committing an indiscretion on a matter that is in a more than embryonic state.

Even UEFA / ECA itself could end up organizing something similar.

Indiscretion is irresponsible and very premature, ”said a source familiar with the negotiations.

Although from Barcelona they see it more transparent: "Much progress has been made and Barça has already signed the project protocols and the will to be inside," they explained from the Camp Nou offices;

“We have worked in silence, but it is something that is going to happen.

It is the evolution of football, because there is a lot of money and entertainment at stake, and deep down it is like the Euroleague in basketball, integrated between the week of domestic competition ”.

On where the project is, several clubs point to 2022 as the start date, although there are conflicting opinions.

“It only takes a real willingness from the clubs to shake off the fear of breaking with UEFA, because an investor like JP Morgan has emerged, which is a bank and offers more lax conditions than investment funds, more leonine.

Although the funds are always going to be behind, no matter how much the clubs do not want it, ”said a manager who closely follows the steps that are being taken.

“The will of the clubs is the least of it.

Any club that likes the idea and is told that it is going to make much more money will not hesitate.

What is needed is that someone who is willing to put it really appears.

We have been in meetings, but for a year there is nothing new ”, says a source from Atlético de Madrid.

The shock of Bartomeu's revelation has not been generated as this is an unknown matter.

For years the idea of ​​a European Super League has been on the table and has been taking shape and gathering momentum.

All the actors involved, clubs, and the two great institutions that have something to say, UEFA and FIFA, admit that the project exists.

The depth and impact of the message of the already former Barça president has been produced because an entity of the size of Barcelona was already willing to put it to a vote at an assembly of partners.

Accelerated by the pandemic

"If Bartomeu was willing to submit this to an Assembly that would mean that he should have been presented there with concrete data on the project and its profitability.

It would not be valid only with a vague idea and some possible investors ”, warned a former director of a relevant Spanish club.

The interpretations of why Bartomeu dropped the bomb are diverse.

Some sources indicated that he was looking to leave his legacy in case the idea goes ahead.

Others, such as LaLiga, pointed out that it is a favor to Florentino Pérez because of the good relationship they have maintained, amassed by their opposition to Javier Tebas.

The sketch of the tournament describes a competition of a long dozen teams to which more have been added until almost twenty.

It would be played over two rounds and the best eight would qualify for the knockout rounds that would decide the winner.

According to sources familiar with the project, it would not be a completely closed league, there would be several clubs that would not be relegated in the first editions in order to guarantee stability and profitability with potential investors and telemarketers.

Nor would it mean that the clubs that are members of this new competition will stop participating in their respective local leagues.

The project, which threatens the Champions League and UEFA, has regained strength with a breeding ground that contains two ingredients that favor it. The first, the recession that the pandemic is generating. The economic crisis derived from the coronavirus has become an accelerator of the process. The clubs involved estimate a 25% recess in their income in the coming years. A cut that puts the current economic structures of most of them in check. "The idea is that the clubs are the owners of the competition," they revealed from the outgoing Barça management, complaining, like the rest of those who would be their future partners, of the distribution that UEFA makes of the money from European competitions. The second component that the project can make a reality is that for the first time it is approached with an open confrontation between FIFA and UEFA. The first one has already announced a new Club World Cup with the best European teams that will compete with the Champions League. If it still exists then.