New European Super League 'idea' explained: Premier League clubs linked as Andrea Agnelli plans relaunch

The European Super League idea was first launched in 2021 but collapsed within just 48 hours of its proposal with clubs from around Europe pulling out quickly.

However, La Gazzetta dello Sport is now reporting that the Juventus President, Andrea Agnelli is unveiling a new Super League proposal today at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit today.

Back in April 2021, Juventus, AC and Inter Milan were three of the 12 biggest clubs in Europe to represent the new proposed tournament, with six Premier League teams linked, but a year on it would appear that only Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona are left interested in the project.

The UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has now said of the club owners attempting to resurrect the failed 2021 attempts of ‘living in a parallel world’.

UEFA have been hoping to adapt their own Champions League with a proposal of 36 teams being included in the competition but it would appear that these suggestions do not go far enough for certain Italian and Spanish clubs.

What is the European Super League?

The Super League was initially a proposed competition that would be contested by 20 European football clubs and would have rivalled the extremely successful UEFA Champions League.

Its proposal was hit with immediate opposition from fans, players, managers and politicians, mainly due to concerns about elitism and the lack of competitiveness there would be within the competition as it would have only consisted of the best players from a few European countries.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham were the six English teams originally signed up for the new tournament but all eventually withdrew.

What is Andrea Agnelli’s new ‘idea’?

The Old Lady’s Chairman’s new proposal would be slightly varied from his 2021 hopes. Similarly to the UEFA Nations League, the new European Super League would have promotions, relegations with 24 clubs gaining direct access to the competition every season based on their previous European campaign results.

There would also be an additional eight clubs qualifying from the league. Agnelli previously proposed having 15 fixed spots in the tournament, but this has now been scratched with the Italian businessman claiming there would be no fixed entry.

The Juventus boss also suggested that fewer matches would be played in the ESL.

What has been said in response to the idea?

UEFA’s President did not hold back in his opposition to the suggestion of yet another launch of the ESL

Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit, which is taking place in London, Ceferin said: “I have to say that those speaking about the Super League are not speaking about football. I am sick and tired of this non-football project.

“First, they launched their nonsense of the idea in the middle of a pandemic. Now, we read articles that they are planning to launch another idea now in the middle of a war.

“Do I have to speak more about these people? They obviously live in a parallel world.

“We are helping in a terrible situation, they are working on a project like that. They can pay whoever they want to write ‘this is a nice project, they are full of solidarity, there will be charity to small ones’.

“This is nonsense and everyone knows it. One of them, after it, called me and apologised- but then they go again. For them, the fans are customers. For us, the fans are fans.”

In a final warning to the three clubs who are seeking to revive the Super League, the UEFA chief said: “They can play their own competition, nobody forbids them. But if they play their own competition, they can’t play in our competition.”

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