THE European Super League is in tatters with EVERY Premier League club confirming they have pulled out. After a dramatic 48 hours, the project appears to be doomed with all six Prem clubs announcing they have dropped out.
We’re bringing you ALL of the twists and turns from this explosive story here.
Follow ALL of the latest updates below from this developing story…
GLAZE OVER
Man Utd chief Joel Glazer has written an apology letter to fans over the disastrous European Super League.
It read: “We got it wrong and we want to show that we can put things right.
“Although the wounds are raw and it will take time for the scars to heal, I am personally committed to rebuilding trust with our fans and learning from the message you delivered with such conviction.
“In seeking to create a more stable foundation for the game, we failed to show enough respect for its deep-rooted traditions and for that we are sorry.
“This is the world’s greatest football club and we apologise unreservedly for the unrest caused during these past few days.”
Joel Glazer has apologised for the European Super League plans
SUMMER LOVIN’
Manchester United and Liverpool are reportedly in talks to battle it out in two pre-season friendlies this summer.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, both teams could miss out on playing abroad if travel restrictions remain in place.
And according to the Mirror, United and Liverpool are in negotiations over staging lucrative friendlies ahead of the 2021-2022 season.
They claim that a first meeting could take place at Old Trafford in late July, before Anfield hosts the second clash in early August.
It has also been suggested that the games could be used as test events for capacity crowds ahead of the new Premier League campaign which starts on August 14.
Man Utd and Liverpool could play each other twice in pre-season friendlies this summer
NEW START
Arsenal fans are desperate for Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote to buy the club following Stan Kroenke’s involvement in the disastrous European Super League.
The magnate, worth £8.3billion, invested in an oil refinery and claimed it would be operational this year, allowing him to focus on new projects which could include buying Arsenal.
Dangote said in January 2020: “It is a team that yes, I would like to buy some day.
“I’m trying to finish building the company and then after we finish, maybe some time in 2021, we can.
“I’m not buying Arsenal right now, I’m buying Arsenal when I finish all these projects because I’m trying to take the company to the next level.”
aliko dangote please take over Arsenal now @Arsenal ! 😭😭— M.Richards ⭐️ (@MarcusDashing) April 21, 2021
FEELING BLUE
Thomas Tuchel has revealed exiled striker Tammy Abraham is ‘worried, sad and angry’ about his Chelsea situation.
The England striker hasn’t featured since a 1-1 draw with Southampton on February 20 and was left out of the squad for the FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester City and missed Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Brighton.
The German boss said: “Everybody is concerned when they’re not in the squad but it’s never an easy decision for me to take.
“I have a lot of sympathy for him and I can understand that he is worried and sad and maybe angry with me when I make these decisions.
“Sometimes we spend almost an hour talking after the last training which decisions to take and which players we have to leave at home because it’s thin margins which decide.
“Tammy has had this decision now a few times against him which is never personal but this is life at Chelsea sometimes as a player.
“I hope that he does not get lost in too many thoughts because he knows not to be too concerned about his situation.
“Everything he can do is stay focused and stay with belief because the situation for a striker can change in minutes. We have an important training coming up and my decisions are not made yet.”
Credit: AFP
FLOR-GET ABOUT IT
Cristiano Ronaldo will not be returning to Real Madrid, according to disgraced Los Blancos president Florentino Perez.
Ronaldo has been heavily linked with a Real return having cemented himself as one of the greatest players in history at the Bernabeu between 2009 and 2018.
It is suggested Juve will sell him this summer to balance the books and recent reports claimed Los Blancos were planning an emotional reunion.
But during a farcical interview in which Perez, 74, tried to defend the money-grabbing European Super League, he was asked whether the Portuguese would be re-signed.
Perez replied: “They are very good players. Lionel Messi and Cristiano. It’s a historical thing.
“Cristiano’s return? No. He has a contract with Juventus. But it doesn’t make sense for him to come back. I love him a lot, he has given us a lot.”
BALLS OUT
Boris Johnson insisted today that an investigation into football governance WILL still go ahead – despite the collapse of the European Super League last night.
Ex-sports minister Tracey Crouch will do a “root and branch” probe into how footie is ruled and how fans can best be represented, the PM vowed this lunchtime.
The PM said today it was essential that the investigation continues – after all six English clubs pulled out last night – killing the project before it could really begin.
He said at PMQs today: “It’s entirely right that (former sports minister Tracey Crouch) will do a root and branch investigation into the governance of football and into what we can do to promote the role of fans in that governance.”
Bashing the proposed new Super League project, which was slammed by politicians and fans alike, he added: “I think that one of the most worrying features about the European Super League proposals is that they would have taken clubs that take their names from great, famous British towns and cities, English towns and cities, and turned them just into global brands with no relation to the fans, to the communities that gave them life and that give them the most love and support.”
AL OVER
Manchester United appear to have missed out on David Alaba after it was reported he had agreed a five-year deal with Real Madrid.
Chelsea were also linked with the Austrian who revealed he will quit Bayern Munich after 13 years this summer.
Sky reports Alaba has signed on at the Bernabeu until 2026.
The 28-year-old previously expressed his desire for a new challenge and is thought to have set his heart on a move to Spain.
GUESS WHO’S BACK
Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang appeared to hint he was too hasty to quit Twitter.
Aubameyang said: “Got a bit too emotional last night.
“Bottom line is – yesterday was a big day for football and our fans and an even bigger day for social justice.”
Got a bit too emotional last night. Bottom line is – yesterday was a big day for football and our fans and an even bigger day for social justice ⚽️❤️✊🏾— AUBA⚡️ (@Auba) April 21, 2021
BULLY BOYS
Former Manchester United player and coach Nicky Butt slammed the ‘worst case of bullying from powerful people’ and said any apologies are irrelevant after the Super League debacle.
🗣️ “It is the worst case of bullying from powerful people”Former Man Utd player and coach Nicky Butt doesn’t expect fans to trust clubs for a long time after the Super League attempts pic.twitter.com/Sd0W9piUb1— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 21, 2021
VICTORY FOR FANS
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden heralded the crumbling of Super League as a ‘real victory for fans’.
JUVE HAD IT
Juventus have admitted defeat on the Super League despite chairman Andrea Agnelli’s core role.
Just Barcelona and Real Madrid are yet to pull out of the controversial project.
A club statement read: “In this context, while Juventus remains convinced of the soundness of the project’s sport, commercial and legal premises, it believes that at present there are limited chances that the project be completed in the form originally conceived.
“Juventus remains committed to pursuing the creation of long-term value for the Company and the entire football industry.”
RED WITH RAGE
Arsenal fans in charge of the club’s popular Reddit channel have cut official ties with the Premier League team.
In the fallout from the Gunners’ controversial commitment to the failed European Super League, supporters have voiced their anger.
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has faced calls to sell up and leave North London over his role in signing the club up.
And the latest group to make their voice heard is the r/Gunners subreddit that provides a virtual forum for thousands of fans.
Previously, the channel’s moderators had collaborated with the club to arrange Ask Me Anything (AMA) chats between players and fans.
Arsenal were also given permission to take subreddit comments to be discussed in their post-match The Breakdown show, which regularly attracts tens of thousands of viewers.
But the ESL debacle has led to the subreddit cutting its official ties with the club and releasing a pointed statement.
Arsenal Reddit Statement
“The Gunners subreddit has been at the forefront of Reddit relationships with their club. We’d like to address that.
“This has been a hard time for all of us… As fans of the beautiful game and fans of Arsenal as a whole.
“We, as a moderation team, have decided that in the best interest of keeping football as the sport by the fans, for the fans, will hereby retract our relationship with Arsenal.
“Effective immediately our tactics and analysis thread, from which the club were allowed to take content for The Breakdown, will now simply serve as a ‘serious’ match thread alternative as was originally requested from you guys.
“We will ask the club to not use content from this thread for their show from this point on. On top of that, we will be declining player AMAs.
“The tactics and analysis post was originally created as a product of our relationship with Arsenal but we understand people find a use for this thread and see it’s independent value so, instead of scrapping it as a whole, it will just undergo some small changes.”
PLAYING POLITICS
Andrea Agnelli blamed politicians for getting involved and helping to break up the Super League.
The Juventus chairman was a key founder in the crumbling project which was announced to uproar on Sunday.
England’s Bix Six all pulled out on Tuesday after widespread fan fury.
And he told Reuters: “I have had speculation to that extent that if six teams would have broken away and would have threatened the EPL (Premier League), politics would have seen that as an attack to Brexit and their political scheme.”
ON BRAND
Brandon Williams bid a hasty retreat after accidentally revelling in the European Super League’s end with a post of Liverpool celebrations.
Fans were quick to point out that the Manchester United defender had focused his thanks on his club’s bitter rivals.
An Instagram post of Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League bus parade went online to his one million followers on Tuesday night.
It was captioned: “To you all 👏🏼 Everyone is equal⚽️.”
It did not take long for 20-year-old Williams to swap out the picture for one of his own fans.
And an image of United fans cheering on the streets was put up with a similar caption, which now emphasised that ‘we are ALL equal’.
TURN THE AC OFF
AC Milan are the latest club to ditch the Super League.
A club statement read: “We accepted the invitation to participate in the Super League project with the genuine intention to deliver the best possible European competition for football fans around the world and in the best interest of the club and our own fans.
“Change is not always easy, but evolution is necessary for progress, and the structures of European football have evolved and changed over the decades.
“However, the voices and the concerns of fans around the world have clearly been expressed about the Super League, and AC Milan must be sensitive to the voice of those who love this wonderful sport.
“We will continue to work hard to deliver a sustainable model for football.”
HIT IN THE POCKET!
All of the Big Six have reportedly lost £8million after signing up to the Super League.
The English clubs all rapidly pulled out of the widely slammed new competition yesterday just 48 hours after it was announced.
The Mail reports all the ‘founder’ members had bought around £8m worht of equity stakes.
And the clubs are also set to face financial penalties after signing contracts that committed them for three years.
SUPER LEAGUE RECAP
Blink and you would’ve missed it!
EFL STATEMENT
The EFL has backed the Big Six’s withdrawal from the Super League and released the following statement.
EFL STATEMENT IN FULL ON SUPER LEAGUE
The EFL welcomes the decision made by six English Premier League teams to withdraw intentions to join a European Super League.
With widespread opposition met at home and abroad, including from the EFL, these divisive proposals threatened the sporting principles of the football pyramid that our founding members pioneered over a century ago.
Across the globe, people in and outside of the game spoke up when it counted. The EFL is heartened by the response and remain proud to be part of a unified footballing system that promotes open competition, gives everybody a chance to dream and continues to inspire generations of young people in the communities from where our Clubs take their name.
The message is clear that the pyramid must be protected above all. The European Super League failed in part due to a model of distorted and unfair financial distributions, a criticism that can also be levelled at the current financial model in our own domestic game.
The EFL hopes the same enthusiasm can be immediately directed to achieve appropriate and much needed change to the distribution of wealth in our domestic leagues, and we will work with all parties to push for this reform.
By resetting economically, we can support all Clubs in achieving a sustainable future, promoting the principles that so many have fought for.
Reforms must also consider UEFA’s own Champions League restructuring which pose an existential threat to our competitions, including the League Cup, which provides vital income to EFL Clubs and is the breeding ground for stars of the future.
The EFL will embrace the Government’s fan-led review and confirm we will contribute fully to help shape any decisions taken and ensure they are made in the best interests of supporters and the Clubs that we represent.
RIGHT RESULT FOR FOOTBALL
Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the Big Six quitting the Super League.
The PM said ‘we must continue to protect our cherished national game’.
I welcome last night’s announcement. This is the right result for football fans, clubs, and communities across the country. We must continue to protect our cherished national game.— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 21, 2021
TRUST ISSUE
Super League founder and Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli slammed the state of the football industry despite calling time on the controversial project.
Agnelli told Reuters: “If you tell me other methods for putting together such projects … if you were to ask the authorisation of others, I don’t think you would have carried out a project like this.
“The relations are there, I have seen relations changing in time, some people I am quite sure that people will be open and talk to each other.
“I don’t think our industry is a particularly sincere, trustworthy or reliable one in general.”
GOLDENBALLS TO SUPER LEAGUE
Even Florentino Perez’s own Real Madrid stars showed their discontent at the Super League.
Luka Modric, Lucas Vazquez, Marcelo and Alvaro Odriozola all ‘liked’ David Beckham’s critique of the plot, as spotted by Marca.
The England legend decried the game being ‘in danger’ as the ESL proposals emerged – before spectacularly collapsing under the weight of fan criticism.
Los Blancos club president Perez, recently re-elected to 2025, spearheaded the operation financed by US bank JP Morgan.
The 74-year-old cited the supposedly declining interest of young people in football as one key reason behind the ESL.
But there was a sense of irony as the man who shot to fame through his Galactico transfers was called out by two of his most iconic signings with Luis Figo also panning the project.
The Portuguese said: “This so called ‘Super League’ is anything but ‘Super’.
“This greedy and callous move would spell disaster for our grassroots, for women’s football, and the wider football community only to serve self-interested owners, who stopped caring about their fans long ago, and complete disregard for sporting merit. Tragic.”
Credit: AFP
MORE CLUBS OUT!
Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan have confirmed they are OUT of the crumbling Super League.
They join the Big Six English clubs who all ditched the highly controversial project on Tuesday night.
Atleti say the team and boss Diego Simeone are both happy with the decision to quit and that sporting merit is the most important thing.
‘EAT THEMSELVES’
Gary Neville hopes the six rebel Premier League clubs are fined by £100million each by Real Madrid and they end up ‘eating themselves’ in the messy fallout from the European Super League.
And fans are calling on the so-called ‘Big Six’ to be hit with a punishment within the English game.
Neville was one of the strongest voices condemning Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and the two Manchester clubs for signing up to the 20-team breakaway franchise league.
Fans, players, managers and pundits together made their fury known and all six made a sheepish U-turn on Tuesday night to withdraw from the ESL – less than 48 hours after their public statements signalling their intentions.
But Neville still wants to see the Premier League sides made to pay for their initial plans which would likely have decimated the rest of English football.
The former United and England right-back told Sky Sports: “Florentino Perez might have them on a £100m fine and I hope he does.
“I hope Perez has got them on a massive fine to withdraw the lot of them and they basically end up eating each other.”
TOO MUCH AG
Juventus chief Andrea Agnelli still believes in the beauty of the Super League project despite it is now workable after the Big Six quit.
“I remain convinced of the beauty of the [ESL] project”Juventus president Andrea Agnelli says the European Super League cannot go ahead without England’s big six, but he still believes it is the way forward pic.twitter.com/dIrgpue7lz— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) April 21, 2021
JOHN YOUR BIKE
Liverpool owner John W Henry is refusing to sell the club amid the European Super League fiasco despite widespread calls for him to get out.
Reds legend Jamie Carragher is one of thousands of Liverpool fans calling for the American to leave but the billionaire has dug his heels in and said: “My work is not done.”
Henry was one of the main protagonists in the group whose plans threatened to destroy football and caused widespread outrage.
However the Reds joined their Big Six counterparts in backing out of the closed shop franchise league on Tuesday night.
Liverpool eventually released a video from the Fenway Sports Group chief on Wednesday morning in which Henry finally apologised for dragging the Reds’ name through the mud but also included a clear message regarding the future.
He said: “More than a decade ago when we signed up with the challenges associated with football, we dreamed of what you dreamed of.
“And we’ve worked hard to improve your club. Our work isn’t done.”
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