Tony Parker, here last November before a Euroleague match between Asvel and FC Barcelona.

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JEFF PACHOUD / AFP

  • Several major European clubs, including Real Madrid, are keen on the creation of a European football Superleague.

  • This controversial project would not displease Tony Parker, who has already struggled to install Asvel in the Euroleague.

  • For RMC, the OL board member said on Sunday that it would be "important" for the Lyon club to be integrated into this future closed league.

If there is a major French sports executive who does not need to be convinced by the benefits of a proposed European Football Superleague, it is Tony Parker.

Asked by RMC Sport on Sunday on this prospect, particularly supported by the president of Real Madrid Florentino Perez, "TP" quickly announced the color: "For me, the best model is the format of the NBA, of the NFL.

This format will last over time.

There, with the Covid-19, we see the limits of the current system.

A football Superleague, that makes you dream, even an NBA football ”.

The president of Asvel, who has “the double Franco-American culture”, is aware that this subject is “sensitive”: “I know that to see the little thumb start in National 12 and move up to the first division, we love that in Europe.

We love the Coupe de France when the little one beats the big one.

To make a Superleague and to see the clubs not to play too much in their local championship, it is clear that it will be difficult, it is not in the European mentality.

But I think football will one day move towards the NBA model ”.

"People know which side I'm on"

The former playmaker of the Blues and Spurs has struggled a lot in recent seasons to allow Asvel to settle in the Euroleague, alongside the 17 best European clubs: "I worked for that compared to basketball, which is heading straight for a private league, so that we have at least one representative of French basketball ”.

Now a member of the OL board of directors, and possible successor to Jean-Michel Aulas in a few years, “TP” necessarily follows closely this Superleague file in football.

"It is clear that it would be important for OL to be in this Superleague if the big football bosses decide to do it," he says.

It is a very successful club over the last 20 years.

People know which side I'm on because that's what I want to do for basketball ”.

This strong position will not necessarily be popular with the majority of OL supporters.

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