Florentino Pérez defended the creation of the European Super League on Monday in an interview with the program “El Chiringuito” in which he assured that the project for which he was appointed president is not born with a breaking spirit, but warned that football, UEFAIt should be “more transparent. We don’t want to confront anyone, but when there are people who think these institutions are theirs, that UEFA, LaLiga and others are theirs, you have to do something.”
“I’m here to save football, not my interest,” said Florentino, adding that his intention “is to return interest and get out of this critical situation we are going through. UEFA is talking about the new Champions League, which we do not understand , for the beginning in 2024 and I don’t realize that by then we will be dead. Football can’t wait “.
“The big ones are the ones that generate more resources and should be known. If we don’t take this step, everyone will fall, not just the big or the modest ones, but everyone and our interest is to avoid it,” he proclaimed. .
The president of Real Madrid warned that the project is a necessity to save a “critical situation”, moving away as much as possible from any controversy. “Nobody here has established anything. The important clubs in England, Italy and Spain have to offer a solution to a very bad situation that football is going through. There is talk of five billion losses, and Real Madrid had a budget last year. 800 and we have reached 700 and this year instead of 900 we will see if we will enter the 600, in two seasons with 400 million less, only Real Madrid. We are going through a very bad situation. We are all going through a situation. very bad and we are looking for a solution, “he said.
In this sense, Florentino argued the decision in an “urgent and urgent need. When you only have TV income, you understand that the only way to make it profitable is by making matches more competitive and attractive to fans around the world. And conclude this yes in Instead of playing a Champions League during the week, which is less and less interesting, we make a Super League, we would be able to improve everything we lose.
“Football needs to evolve as life evolves,” the president said, adding that “everything has changed, social media has changed the way we relate and live, and football needs to adapt to that scenario. Our sport is losing interest,” shows down and something needs to be done, because with the pandemic this is accelerating.
“It is not true that it is a league for the rich, but to save everyone,” Florentino insisted, warning that “we will explain well what this competition is and that its goal is to save everyone, the modest ones, the everyone, because it’s the only chance to survive. Everyone here speaks, but those who have the right to speak are the fans, the 4 billion fans around the world who want this to be more attractive.
“We have to respond to fans around the world, without big statements that are useless. The Champions League has less and less interest among young people and we have to react,” he said, adding that young people are the ones behind football. its current format: “40 percent of young people are no longer interested in football. There are many poor quality matches and they have other forms of entertainment. So we understand that we have to do something to make it more attractive and something simple happened to us. like this one.
“Football has reduced its attractiveness among young people and we need to make sure that these young people, who have other platforms to have fun, return to football. The Champions League is attractive only in the quarterfinals, because before playing against “And the young people say that these games are very long, unattractive. Sometimes we don’t understand our children and there are different generations that are worth the effort to understand them and give them what they ask for,” he said.
“We risk the future of football and there are people who do not want to lose their privileges, even if we are all on the verge of ruin. We do not want to be richer and the poor poorer, it is not true. Football is in free decline and you have to do something, save it, “he repeated, recalling that this situation is not entirely new.
“It already happened in the 50’s, when the European Cup was created, which the Santiago Bernabéu held against FIFA and which, in the end, changed football. The attraction is due to the fact that the big ones play and that is for the good of all. “We are doing it to save the world. Football is at a critical juncture,” he said.
“It was not difficult for me to talk to Laporta. When you talk to responsible people, things are simple. He is a sensitive man and he understood it because Barcelona is also in a very delicate situation. Does he save him? “In the 20 years since I was in football, I have never seen such a situation,” said Florentino, referring to Barça’s position, to which, laughing, he acknowledged that, if necessary, he would teach as president. in the SuperLiga, Cup of champions.
“This tournament generates more money, because a Barcelona-Milan or a Madrid-Manchester is much more attractive. The problem is clear: what does the whole world demand? We have fans, all big, in China or Singapore and that’s what gives money , and not other competitions. And that money goes to everyone, because it’s a pyramid that benefits everyone in the end. If we’re anything, it’s solidarity, “he clarified, rejecting that this is an absolutely closed competition.
“Others can access the tournament because there are 15 fixed clubs and another five that can play for sporting merit. It is not a closed league, as has been said, it is not true. Clubs must be worthy to play a league like this,” he said. he argued, revealing the “exponential” growth in economic benefits: “UEFA earns 130 million euros and we’re talking about 400. With this money what we’re doing is saving the world at large.”
“We have a poll in which 75 percent of the fans are in favor,” warned the Real Madrid president, thus rejecting the opposite opinion which, he said, was installed “for interests that should explain” and acknowledged that PSG in this At the moment, he is not part of the founding club “because I have not invited him yet, just like the Germans, but I do not know why there are those who, without knowing, speak only to speak and that we will end the Leagues when it is common sense that it will not be so.
“We have talked to all the leagues, federations and no one understands those new champions. They say it will start in 2024, until then we will be dead. I do not realize the urgency we all have,” he clarified, resolving this thing. The champions would not die because “the other clubs would continue to play it. You can play both.”
In this regard, he threw a glove to imply that they are not doing anything behind anyone and that for this reason he does not understand the attacks received. “We say we will talk to UEFA and FIFA. We are not doing anything in the back and I do not understand why they will get angry. I said in the statement. UEFA works in another format, which, with all due respect, I do not understand, but that does not produce the income needed to save football.
“What we want is to save football so that the next 20 years can be lived in peace. One thing must be very clear: the situation is dramatic,” he repeated, throwing an arrow at the UEFA president.
“UEFA should be more transparent and explain things. We know that football is going through a very difficult situation and that models need to be changed when necessary. In the statement we say we will talk to UEFA and all organizations.
“We are talking about something very serious. Football has four billion fans and our group represents two billion, it deserves even more respect when we are here to save everyone,” he agreed, responding to the UEFA president in a way obvious: there are threats from those who confuse a monopoly with society. We have to talk and talk, as we have offered “, rejecting that he fears an expulsion, already this season, from the Champions League, as it has been speculated:” Madrid will not let me out of the Champions League, not Madrid or City or anyone else, that’s for sure.
“Real Madrid footballers can be very calm because nothing will happen. UEFA is a monopoly and what they should do is be more transparent. I don’t want to talk about the things that happened there, but of course I shouldn’t have that threatening tone, “he warned in response to Ceferin’s threats. “What cannot be allowed is that the UEFA president insults us, as he did with the president of an entity like Juventus. I would be unable to speak like him. This must change because we do not want a UEFA president. UEFA “, he summed up, insisting that the continental body” must understand that things have changed and it is time to take a step forward, because in the situation we are in we are dying.
“We have reduced our salary, I know what LeBron James is earning, but I don’t know what Mr. Ceferín is earning, for example. And I have reduced my salary, but I don’t see the LaLiga president doing that,” he said, adding that it is necessary. “An exercise in transparency in all senses. Here the monopoly is over and everyone should know what is happening because we are on the verge of bankruptcy and not just us, but everyone.
“The league will not lose its value because it is deeply rooted and will continue as always. Look at basketball: we play CBA, which is the League, then the Euroleague and nothing happens. You can coexist perfectly,” he said. , proclaiming the character that supports your project despite all the pressures. “Look, when we have the money, we distribute it, because we believe in solidarity and values.
“With the current income of the Champions League, we die. And we all die, big and small, which some do not want to understand. We want to be masters of our destiny, but from the beginning of solidarity Who says otherwise is that he does not want to things change and it is against the interests of football.
“Pause? We need to convince all levels of the need to take this step. If no agreement is reached, we will see what happens. We are trying to get closer to everyone. It is not about the rich and the poor,” he said. he. , solving this pedagogy is more necessary than confrontation: “You can be for or against, to say that you don’t understand it, but for the sake of football you can’t be disrespectful. I’m here to improve. “