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PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi at a seminar in Portugal says Football belongs to the fans and the history of clubs, but it needs new investments, also to prevent it from becoming the playground for a few elite clubs, as those who founded the Super League claim.
“Football – underlines Al Khelaifi during the Football Talks event organized by the Portuguese Football Federation – is made of tradition, but it must innovate, and be creative. Much can still be done to involve the fans and transform the match into an even more exciting event.”
This is the guideline according to PSG President who opposes the Super League project, or rather of “Not So Super League” as it was renamed by Al Khelaifi, the first opponent of the Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona project:
“The future format of the Champions League, thanks to the significant increase in revenues, already demonstrates that we can grow anyway, developing with the involvement of all the clubs, from the smallest to the largest, respecting the fans and the media. And not just favouring two or three clubs”. Those who according to the ironic Al Khelaifi make the “Super League of 3” or the “Non Super League”.
“In short, the concept is clear, we grow together,” says PSG owner who pushes for football to welcome new investors more easily: “Otherwise the funds of those who want to invest in football will go to other sports”.
So did the sovereign fund of Qatar, in 2011 “investing and not just buying” the PSG: “And we went from a turnover of 70 to 650 million euros and today the PSG brand is worth 4 billion. If you want to grow you have to invest.
“Football must allow new investments, but with clear rules that prevent drifts, such as those of clubs that instead accumulate debts for billions of euros, with management that leaves only disasters, destined to worsen the situation even more. destroy football.”
The reference, of course, is to Barcelona, which also sold 25% of its company that manages its image to the founder of Mediapro, the same body that two years ago terminated the contract that would have had to guarantee over a billion in TV rights to French football.
“At PSG – explains Al Khelaifi – we have no debts, even if we have had difficulties induced by the pandemic, but we want to continue to grow, to increase our potential on an international scale. Some big clubs do not want this to happen, because they do not want to face the competition. “Just like the Juventus of the former friend Agnelli that tomorrow shows up at the Parco dei Principi.”