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NAPOLI owner Aurelio De Laurentiis is currently in the midst of working on plans for a more lucrative European league where qualification would be based strictly on merit.
The European Super League plans that went awry after all but three clubs – Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona - pulled out following massive protests by fans.
De Laurentiis too opposed the Super League proposal since there was to be automatic places for the “preferred clubs” but believes some tweaking is needed.
He is of the believe that the current system does not work and that the Champions League and Europa League do not generate sufficient income for the participating clubs.
He acknowledges that to be competitive clubs need top-class players and in order to do that funds are required and the current competitions simply do not account for it.
Thus, he wants a more enticing and lucrative tournament as a way forward.
On his agenda is to reduce the reduce the number of teams in the domestic leagues which will surely meet stiff resistance from clubs.
Unlike the Super League, his plan is to make entry strictly based on performance in the domestic leagues and has a project worth £8.5billion in the works.
“If we don't change the rules of the game and make it a better spectacle, young people will abandon us and football will no longer be the central part of our lives,” says De Laurentiis.
This plan is certainly much fairer to all clubs but at the end of the day public perception is vital for its success. Otherwise, it will go down the same road as the Super League fiasco. – Agencies, September 25, 2021