Florentino Pérez defended the creation of the European SuperLeague, this Monday, in an interview on the program ‘El Xiringuito’ during which he assured that the project of which he has been appointed president is not born with a spirit of rupture but warning that football, The UEFA, It has to be “more transparent. We don’t want to confront anyone, but when there are people who believe that these institutions are theirs, that UEFA, Laliga and others are theirs, you have to do something.”
“I’m here to save football, not for self-interest,” said Florentino, noting that his intention “is to return interest and get out of this critical situation we are going through. UEFA is talking about this news Champions, which we don’t understand, to start in 2024 and they don’t realize that by then we will be dead. Football can’t wait. “
“The big ones are the ones who generate the most resources and that should be known. If we don’t take this step everyone falls, not just the big ones 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” by moving away as far as possible from any controversy. “Nobody has set up anything here. Major clubs in England, Italy and Spain have to find a solution to a very bad situation that football is going through. There is talk of five billion losses and Real Madrid last year had a budget of 800 and we finished in 700 and this year instead of 900 we will see if we enter 600, in two seasons 400 million less, only Real Madrid.We are going through a very bad situation.We all went through a very bad situation and we are looking for a solution, “he said.
In this regard, Florentino argued the decision in a need “urgent and urgent. When you only have the television revenue you understand that the only way to make it profitable is to make matches more competitive and attractive to fans around the world. And he concludes that if instead of playing a Champions League during the week, which is less and less interesting, we make it a SuperLiga, we would be able to make up for everything we lose.
“Football must evolve as life evolves,” he said, noting that “everything has changed, social networks have changed the way we relate and live and football must adapt to this scenario.” Our sport is losing interest, it is noticeable that audiences are declining 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, everyone, because it’s the only chance to survive.Here everyone talks but the ones who have the right to speak are the fans, to the 4 billion fans around the world who want this to be more appealing.
“We have to respond to fans around the world, without big statements that are useless. The Champions are less and less interested among young people and we need to react,” he said, stating that it is young people who are giving the back to football in its current format: “40 per cent of young people are no longer interested in football. There are many low-quality matches and they have other forms of entertainment. So we understand that we have to do something to make it more appealing and something as simple as this happened to us.
“Football has lowered its appeal among young people and we need to get these young people, who have other platforms to entertain themselves, to return to football. The Champions League is attractive only from Quarters because before you play against modest who do not attract “And young people say that these parties make them very long, unattractive. Sometimes we don’t understand our children and they are different generations who deserve the effort to understand them and offer them what they ask for,” he said.
“We are playing the future of football and there are people who do not want to lose their privileges even though we are all on the brink of ruin. We do not want to be richer and the poor poorer, this is not true. football is in free fall and something needs to be done, to 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 by the Santiago Bernabéu against FIFA and that in the end changed football. The attraction is because the big ones play and that’s for the good of all “We are doing this to save the football that 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 sensible man and he understood because Barcelona is also in a very delicate situation. Does he save him? He saves us all. I, in For 20 years I have been in football, I have never seen a situation like this “, revealed Florentino regarding the position of Barça, to which, between laughter, he has acknowledged that if necessary he would hand him over, as president of the SuperLiga, the cup of champion.
“This tournament generates more money, because a Barcelona-Milan or a Madrid-Manchester is much more attractive. The issue is clear: what is the demand of the whole world? We have fans, all big ones, in China or Singapore and that’s the that gives money, not other competitions. And that money goes for everyone because it is a pyramid that benefits everyone in the end. If something we are is supportive, “he clarified, rejecting that this is an absolutely closed competition.
“Others can also access the tournament because there are 15 fixed clubs and another five that can play for sporting merit. It’s not a closed league as has been said, that’s not true. Clubs have to be deserving to play a league like this “, argue, announcing the” exponential “growth in terms of economic benefits:” UEFA earns 130 million euros and we talk about 400. With this money what we do is save the world at large. “
“We have a poll in which 75 percent of fans are in favor,” warned the president of Real Madrid, thus rejecting the opposite view that, he said, has been installed “for interests that should explain “and acknowledged that PSG, at the moment, is not part of the founding club” because we have not yet invited him, as the Germans, but I do not know why there are those who, without knowing, speak to speak and that we will end the Leagues when it is common sense that this will not be the case.
“I have spoken to all the leagues, federations and no one understands this new Champions. They say it will start in 2024, by then we will be dead. They do not realize the urgency we all have,” he clarified, resolving that the Champions would not die because “the other clubs would keep playing it. Both can be played.”
In this regard, he threw a glove to imply that they do nothing behind anyone’s back and that is why he does not understand the attacks received. “We say we will talk to UEFA and FIFA. We are not doing anything behind the scenes and I do not understand why they are going to get angry. We make this clear in the statement. UEFA is working in another format, which, with all due respect, I I don’t get it but that doesn’t produce the revenue 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 a dart at the UEFA president.
“UEFA should be more transparent and explain things. We know that football is going through a very difficult situation and we need to change the models when necessary. In the statement we say that we will talk to UEFA and all the bodies. .
“We are talking about something very serious. Football has four billion fans and our group represents 2 billion, they deserve respect and more when we are here to save everyone,” he agreed, replying to the UEFA president obviously: “their specialty is threats from those who confuse a monopoly with society. We need to talk and dialogue, as we have offered,” rejecting that issue for an expulsion, already this season, of the Champions as has been speculated: “Madrid will not be eliminated from the Champions League. Neither Madrid nor City nor anyone else. That is for sure.
“Real Madrid players can be very calm because nothing will happen. UEFA is a monopoly and what it has to do is be more transparent. I don’t want to talk about things that have happened there, but of course it shouldn’t have this threatening tone, “he warned in response to Ceferin’s threats. “What cannot be allowed is for the UEFA president to insult us, as he has done for the president of an entity like Juventus. I would be unable to speak like him. That must change because we do not want a president of the UEFA. UEFA insulting “synthesized, 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 die.
“We have lowered our salary, I know what Lebron James earns, but I don’t know what Mr. Ceferín earns, for example. And I have lowered my salary but I don’t see that the president of Laliga has done that.” he denounced, adding that “an exercise in transparency in all senses is needed. Here the monopoly is over and everyone must know what is happening because we are about to ruin it – and not just us, but everyone.
“The League will not lose value because it is deeply rooted and will continue as always. Look at basketball: we played the ACB, which is the League, and then the Euroleague and nothing happens. You can live together perfectly,” he said, proclaiming the solidarity of his project despite all the pressures. “Look, when we have the money, we hand it out, because we believe in solidarity and values.
“With the current income of the Champions, we die. And we all die, young and old, which is something that some do not want to understand. We want to be masters of our destiny, but from a principle of solidarity. Who he says the opposite is that he doesn’t want things to change and is against football interests.
“Break? We have to convince all levels of the need to take this step. If no agreement is reached then we will see what happens. We try to get closer to everyone. This is not about rich and poor,” he said. , resolving that pedagogy is needed rather than confrontation: “you can stand for or against, say you don’t understand, but for the sake of football you can’t lack respect. I’m here to improve.”