Rome (AFP)
After the six English clubs, the three Italian clubs involved in the Super League in turn gave up the project on Wednesday, even if Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan continue to advocate an evolution of world football.
Juventus, chaired by Andrea Agnelli, one of the main instigators of this project with Real Madrid boss Florentino Perez, admitted that this competition was now "unlikely" to see the light of day "in the form in which it has was originally conceived "after the withdrawal of almost all of the twelve clubs involved.
However, Juve indicates in its press release to remain "convinced of the merits of the sporting, commercial and legal assumptions" of the project.
She adds to remain "committed to the search for long-term value building for the club and for the football movement as a whole".
In an interview published Wednesday by the Repubblica but granted before the announcement of the English withdrawal, the president of Juventus continued to support this project: "Football is no longer a game but an industrial sector and it needs stability".
But he had already admitted in the morning on Wednesday that the Super League no longer existed without the English clubs, while the title of Juve collapsed (-12%) on the Milan Stock Exchange.
Like Juve, AC Milan did not formally announce its withdrawal but took note of the unanimous rejection from the supporters.
"The voices and concerns of supporters around the world over the Super League project have been strong and clear and our club must remain sensitive and attentive to the opinions of those who love this wonderful sport," said Rossonero club.
However, Milan, controlled since 2018 by the American investment fund Elliott, considers that "development is necessary to progress".
"We will continue to be actively involved in defining a sustainable model for the world of football," he adds.
Inter Milan have also not given up on the desire to reform football despite their withdrawal: "Inter believe that football, like any sector of activity, must seek to constantly improve its competitions, in order to to continue to provide emotions to fans around the world, within a framework of financial sustainability, "wrote the club nerazzurro, which belongs to the Chinese group Suning.
"With this vision, we will continue to work with institutions and all stakeholders," he added.
Only FC Barcelona and Real Madrid remain for the moment officially carriers of this project announced on the night of Sunday to Monday, with the objective of supplanting the Champions League.
© 2021 AFP