‘European elite clubs got best deal outcome’

Arsenal’s head of football Raul Sanllehi has revealed that Europe’s elite clubs got “the best possible outcome” from behindclosed-doors Super League negotiations, and that the Gunners remain resolutely committed to the Premier League.

Earlier this month, German magazine Der Spiegel claimed that 16 leading European clubs — including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United — had signed a document paving the way for the creation of a Super League in 2021.

According to the leaked draft of a ‘ binding team sheet’ sent on 22 October 2018 by the firm Key Capital Partners to Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, the 11 founding teams could not be relegated and would be part of the league for the first 20 years.

Sanllehi, who joined Arsenal in February 2018 from Barcelona, was named by Der Spiegel as having a key role in the covert ne- gotiations surrounding a Super League. And while Sanllehi, who was employed by Barcelona at the time, admits a breakaway league was discussed, he says that the primary ambition of the clubs was to renegotiate and strengthen existing terms with Uefa.

“As part of the European Club Association, we had to look at all the options for the future. And one of them, of course, could have been the possibility of a European Super League,” Sanllehi said.

“We had a working team that participated. I was at Barcelona at the time and [former Arsenal Chief Executive] Ivan Gazidis was there too.

“At the end of the day the outcome was the best possible because we got into a new deal with Uefa, within the system that protects the domestic leagues.

“I think that it was a consensus solution for the football family. I think the [Champions League] became much more interesting because there are tougher teams now playing. The revenues have increased and the proof is the evolution in terms of broadcasting and sponsorship, which is exponential. This cycle has grown from the previous one. So I think the final outcome was the right one.” THE INDEPENDENT