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Andrea Agnelli
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MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP
After all six English clubs renounced their participation in the new Super League on Wednesday night, the president of the Italian record champions Juventus Turin no longer believes that the league can continue.
When asked by the Reuters news agency whether the project could still take place without the Premier League clubs, Andrea Agnelli said: "To be honest, no, that is obviously not the case."
The sports information service also reported that Agnelli considers the Super League to have failed. According to information from the French news agency AFP from the environment of main initiator Agnelli, it was said that the plans for the new elite league would be discarded after the withdrawal of the teams. In the meantime, Atlético Madrid have also announced their waiver.
Agnelli was one of the driving forces behind the Super League project, alongside Ed Woodward, Managing Director of Manchester United, and Real Madrid's President Florentino Pérez.
Agnelli had previously said in an interview with the Roman daily newspaper »Repubblica« that he intended to continue with the idea of the Super League.
There is 100 percent chance that the project will be successful.
It is therefore difficult to imagine that clubs like Juventus or Real Madrid would completely forego further development.
However, it will have to be prepared differently.
Agnelli: Change is still necessary
Because Agnelli also told Reuters that he was still convinced that European football needed a change and did not regret the way the split-off attempt was made.
"I am still convinced of the beauty of this project," he said, explaining that it would have created the best competition in the world.
The Super League had abandoned its previous plans after the withdrawal of all English clubs.
"We will consider the appropriate steps to transform the project," announced the league on Wednesday night.
However, it is unclear who is still behind the project.
Liverpool FC, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal FC, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea FC have already withdrawn their participation in the face of fierce opposition from fans, players, associations and politics.
Atlético has now followed suit, FC Barcelona should also think, media reported.
Inter Milan also reportedly no longer have any interest in the multi-billion dollar league.
Thus, in addition to Juventus, AC Milan and Real Madrid remained.
More soon at SPIEGEL.de
ngo / Reuters