Perez revives elite Super League dream

Zim Now Writer

Before his retirement from the tennis court a couple of weeks ago, tennis prodigy Novak Djokovic played his greatest opponent, Rafael Nadal, a record 59 times and so thrilling was each occasion that their rivalry is credited for having grown the sport of tennis.

Likewise, Real Madrid owner Florentino Perez believes the more elite football clubs play each other, the more will be the chances for soccer to rise from its slumber. That is what the fans crave for, he argues.

He made the reference in his latest bid for the formation of a European Super League that will see the crème de la crème of the continent’s teams meeting more regularly on the field of play. He regrets the fact that his team has, for instance, played Liverpool just nine times in a period of 67 years.

"Nadal and Djokovic have faced each other 59 times, is that boring? These historic clashes have grown tennis as a whole.

“Real Madrid and Liverpool have only met nine times in 67 years. What is the point of depriving the supporters of these matches?

In a statement, Perez claimed that football is ‘sick’ and has reaffirmed his commitment to the plans to form a breakaway division of Europe’s wealthiest clubs.

Madrid was one of a dozen clubs which signed up to the plan to create a European Super League in April 2021, but it all fell through following strong supporter backlash.

This prompted the withdrawal of the six Premier League teams involved which included AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid.

But so determined is Perez this time around that he wants to resume the plans with the backing of Barcelona and Juventus.

He wants more high-profile matches between Europe’s biggest clubs on the football calendar, and believes those are the events fans also want to see most.