Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli compares European Super League to Fortnite and Call of Duty

The Italian chief is one of the leading individuals pushing the Super League

Dylan Terry
Wednesday 21 April 2021 17:46 BST
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<p>Agnelli’s comments come less than 24 hours after the collapse of the Super League</p>

Agnelli’s comments come less than 24 hours after the collapse of the Super League

Juventus chief Andrea Agnelli has compared the crumbling European Super League to video games Fortnite and Call of Duty as he desperately bids to defend the highly controversial idea.

All six Premier League clubs withdrew from the ESL on Tuesday night just 48 hours after the concept was announced.

Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan have all followed the lead of the English sides, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus the only three ‘founding members’ remaining.

But that has not stopped Agnelli - vice-chairman of the ESL - from sticking by the principles of the idea.

Speaking to Football Italia, he said: "We didn't threaten anyone, we still want to participate in the domestic competitions. The tradition of football lies in the domestic championships. Fans are important to us and must have the chance to come to the stadium every Sunday.

"The bonus of €350m per year is fake. We are still involved in domestic competitions, and we will play in every stadium in Italy, Spain and England.

“Every week, we'll give the fans the league's games and the games of a new competition that will bring closer the younger generations who are moving away from football.

"The younger ones want to watch significant events. They are not as attached to domestic competition as the previous generations, including mine.

“A third of the fans worldwide follow the Super League clubs, the 10 per cent follows footballers, not clubs, and the most worrying stat is that those between 16 and 24 years old have no interest in football whatsoever.

"The Super League simulates what young people do on digital platforms in competition with Call of Duty, FIFA or Fortnite.”

Agnelli confirmed on Wednesday that the Super League could not go ahead as planned due to the mass exodus of the English clubs.

The complete shattering of the idea comes just two days after Real Madrid president Florentino Perez claimed the Super League would ‘save football’.

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