European Super League Would Destroy The Premier League - Arsene Wenger
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the main reason clubs on the continent are keen to establish a new European Super League is because they cannot compete financially with their rivals in the Premier League.
Manchester United and Liverpool are reported to be in talks over the creation of a new $6 billion breakaway tournament that would feature up to 18 clubs from Europe's top five leagues.
The founding members are aiming to get the tournament underway in 2022 and Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned as Barcelona president on Tuesday, has said La Liga club had already accepted a proposal to join.
But Wenger, FIFA's head of global development, said the plans were aimed at eroding the Premier League's "superiority".
"The Premier League has a superiority, the other leagues try to destroy the advantage that the Premier League has," Wenger said.
"For them, the best thing to do that is to create a European League, which would basically destroy the Premier League.
"So if they get the agreement from the big English clubs, it would happen."
A Super League would see the top sides in Europe face off more regularly, but Wenger said the real beneficiaries would be the club owners.
"We're in a period of owners who are investors," Wenger added. "Their first target is to make more money. And the European Super League is one way, maybe, to make more money."
European Premier League - key points
- Liverpool, Man Utd in talks about joining new FIFA-backed tournament; Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Tottenham reportedly also approached
- As many as five English clubs could sign up
- More than a dozen teams from England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain said to be in negotiations
- Format would comprise up to 18 teams, with home and away fixtures played during regular European season
- Top-placed teams would play in knockout tournament
- Provisional start date as early as 2022
- Wall Street bank JP Morgan in talks to provide £4.6bn in funding
- Tournament could usurp Champions League