Real Madrid president Florentino Perez appeared to again promote the concept of a European Super League as he warned the present state of soccer exhibits it is “sick”.
Perez has been a number one determine in calls for Europe’s elite soccer golf equipment to secede from UEFA competitions in latest years, and he was chairman of the proposed Super League in 2021.
The breakaway competition collapsed on the again of shaky alliances between golf equipment as nicely as political and public strain, with every of the 5 aligned Premier League golf equipment withdrawing in the times following the announcement.
One of Perez’s main arguments for the idea was to permit Europe’s elite to play each other extra usually, although Madrid did face Inter, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool on their option to successful the Champions League final season.
“To fix a problem, you have to first recognise that you have a problem,” Perez mentioned on the membership’s AGM on Sunday. “Our sport is sick. It is shedding its management as a worldwide sport.
“We mustn’t be confused by the impression of Real Madrid’s European Cup run once we have been concerned in seven video games of the best depth and curiosity.
“That was the results of the draw, and of the standard and greatness of our staff. It was a spectacle that helped carry pleasure again to the viewers.
“That’s why we believe European competitions must change, to offer fans top-level games year-round between the strongest teams, with the best players competing.”
The 75-year-old additionally cited tennis, the place the lately retired Roger Federer has often confronted fellow elite gamers Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
“In tennis, Nadal and Federer have played 40 times in 15 years. Nadal and Djokovic have played 59 matches in 16 years,” Perez added, quoted by ESPN.
“In football, we’ve only played Liverpool nine times in 67 years. We’ve played Chelsea four times in the history of the European Cup. What sense does it make to deprive fans of all these games?”
Florentino Pérez: “Real Madrid is the most decorated club in history and competition is in our DNA.”#RealMadrid
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) October 2, 2022
Perez additionally spoke of a latest rating from Forbes of the world’s 50 most respected sports activities groups, which had Madrid down in thirteenth, under a number of US sports activities groups.
“We were top in all sports, and now we’ve fallen to 13th,” he mentioned. “We’ve been overtaken by 12 golf equipment from American sports activities. They should be doing one thing very nicely in the United States and really badly in Europe.
“Football is shedding the worldwide leisure battle in opposition to different sports activities and different platforms.
“We want knowledgeable, trendy, clear administration, not based mostly on previous buildings designed in the final century.
“Recently the chairman of the European Clubs’ Association [Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi] said – talking about the Super League – that Real Madrid are afraid of the competition. Maybe the president of the ECA has to be reminded who Real Madrid are. Competition is in our DNA.”
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