MY ACCOUNT
Giorgio Chiellini insists a European Super League is needed, and has also suggested the number of teams in Serie A should be reduced.
The controversial proposal for a breakaway Super League, which involved the ‘big six’ Premier League sides along with Juvetus, Inter, Milan, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona, was announced in April.
After huge criticism from governing bodies and fan groups, the six English teams, plus Inter, Milan and Atleti, withdrew from the agreement.
Barca, Madrid and Juve, however, have stood by the plan, with UEFA’s attempts to punish the trio having proved fruitless.
While the majority of players have spoken out against the proposal, Juve captain Chiellini believes it is exactly what European football requires.
“I’ve been talking to the [Juve] president for a few years now about this,” Chiellini, who will miss Italy’s clash with Switzerland on Friday due to injury, told DAZN Italia.
“The future of football is increasingly towards a European approach compared to national leagues. A player at Juve’s level wants to play those games, with all due respect.
“Athletes of our level, but also perhaps the fans, want to see more of these European-level fixtures.
“We have reached the point of no return. Institutions, clubs and players must meet to reform the calendar and create new competitions to relaunch this sport, which remains the most beautiful in the world, but can also be improved.
“In the USA, who are masters of this sort of thing, they created Super Leagues in every sport.”
Chiellini also thinks Serie A should be reformed and ideally cut to 16 teams.
“There are some Serie A teams who are in the way,” Chiellini said.
“We really ought to go back to 16 teams, but I think 18 would allow the league to be more competitive and give extra space to European level fixtures.”
