Arsene Wenger believes a European Super League could be launched within the next 10 years.
The Arsenal boss, speaking ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League Play-off showdown with Celtic at Parkhead, believes some clubs will look for a way to start a breakaway league in order to increase their financial muscle.
With clubs such as Manchester City and Real Madrid upping the ante on transfer spending, Wenger believes it is possible there will be moves to create a new league of top clubs.
“The national leagues will survive, but maybe in 10 years you will have a European League,” Wenger said.
“The way we are going now financially, even the money coming in from the Champions League, for some clubs who spend so much money, will not be enough anymore because the income is basically owned by UEFA and they distribute the money to the clubs.
“I’m not sure 100% that I am right, but I feel that there are some voices behind the scenes in our game aiming to do something about a European league, especially if the rules become too restrictive for the big clubs as things currently stand.
“If a European league (does happen) the question is whether clubs will transfer from a national league or whether it is a franchised European league.
“That’s the question people will have to answer.
“I personally believe only in sporting merit, so if one league is created there has to be promotion up and down. But that would be, practically, very difficult to resolve.
“I do not want to kill the national leagues so each team should have to play in the national league and in Europe.
“That means the Euro league taking place in midweek and the national league over the weekend. All this would mean having two teams, basically.”
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