Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 12:57 pm• Rian Rosendaal • Last update: 12:59

For Joan Laporta, the Super League that was quickly written off last year is still very much alive. The chairman of, together with Real Madrid colleague Florentino Pérez, has very ambitious plans for a new European top competition. Laporta goes so far as to say he wants to save football from powerful owners such as those at Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

Laporta plans to push through the plans surrounding the much-discussed Super League. “We are promoting the project together with Florentino Pérez, with whom I am in constant dialogue,” the Barcelona president said in an interview with TV3† In Laporta’s view, it is necessary that European top football is rescued from the hands of wealthy superpowers with owners from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. “We cannot allow European football to be in the hands of states that are not part of the European Union. It is clear that Manchester City and PSG have a money machine and we are fighting against that.”

According to Laporta, in addition to Real and Juventus, a number of clubs, who do not want to be named, are interested in the plans for the Super League. The president of Barcelona emphasizes in the interview with the Spanish television station that the new European top competition should not be at the expense of the various competitions. “It is clear that we have to operate within the framework of European football and absolutely not destroy the national competitions. Those competitions are essential to us and still have a lot of attraction.”

But for Laporta, the Super League is at the top of the agenda for the time being. “We have to find the fit. Yes, we promote the Superleague, that’s right. It could be the most attractive competition in the world. We have to follow this path, otherwise football will lose its virtues and European football will not be sustainable. Clubs like Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid or Juventus, we have a history and honor and they have to take us into account. Unfortunately, we see very little cooperation from UEFA in that area,” said Laporta.