Real Madrid News
UEFA President calls out Real Madrid, Barça over Super League: “They are kidding nobody”
Aleksander Ceferin has once again made headlines recently, with his comments on the clubs such as Real Madrid, who are involved in the European Super League project.
“The Super League has become a Little Red Hood character, a wolf disguised as a grandmother. Who are they kidding? To nobody.
“They are cartels above meritocracy and democracy. It’s the money over the trophies. There is no room for cartels in European football,” Ceferin said (h/t Mundo Deportivo), throwing a warning shot at Real Madrid and other clubs involved in the Super League project.
“Football does not belong to anyone, in reality it belongs to all of us. The general interest must be above the individual interest of three clubs, two financiers and their spokesperson,” he added.
Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona are three clubs that have constantly propagated the ESL project even after a fierce backlash from fans across the world in 2021.
Speaking of Barça, Ceferin called out the Catalan club for their alleged involvement in the Negreira scandal. He has described it as the “most serious case he has ever seen”.
This comes after UEFA last month confirmed it will launch its own probe over the Negreira scandal, in order to ascertain the extent of Barça’s involvement in the crime. Reports claim it was done under the coercion of La Liga president Javier Tebas, who has been at odds with Real Madrid and Barcelona lately.
Although the two traditional rivals have worked in good faith over the past few years, especially due to the ESL project, Real Madrid’s decision to appear in court as an accuser in the Negreira hearings has led to a bit of animosity between the two clubs lately.
Nevertheless, Ceferin, in his speech in Slovenia, defended the model represented by the English Premier League.
“Jealousy is a bad adviser. Before it was UEFA that was criticized, now it seems that it is the Premier that is demonized and should be overthrown. The Premier League was created through an egalitarian and supportive system between its clubs. More than a model to destroy is one to imitate,” he added.
Ceferin was re-elected in his role as the UEFA president at the Lisbon Congress today. He was the sole candidate for the position.
Speaking to the media, Brazil Football Confederations (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues has claimed that the Selecao have not given up on their pursuit of Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, despite the Italian stating that he will not leave the club.
Brazil have been without a manager since the World Cup in Qatar last year, following which Tite stepped down. The CBF have made Ancelotti their top target and have been pursuing his signing for months but to no avail.
The 63-year-old Italian tactician has, on more than one occasion, made it clear that he will be at Real Madrid next season, with his contract expiring in 2024.
However, CBF president Rodrigues is adamant that Ancelotti’s statements are due to him being cautious as he is under contract at Real Madrid and that the Selecao are not prepared to give up on their quest to appoint him as of yet.
“We made a plan, that ‘Plan A’ is the one you know, Ancelotti, and as they say in the ‘ring’ (boxing), I haven’t thrown in the towel yet,” Rodrigues said (h/t Mundo Deportivo).
“Because of contracts, people are cautious,” he added.
Ancelotti, for his part, has repeatedly stated that he does not intend to leave Real Madrid unless he is forced out of the club.
Despite missing out on the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League titles last season, the club continue to back the veteran Italian and are planning for next season with him in charge.
So, despite Rodrigues’ confidence and perseverance, it is extremely unlikely that Ancelotti will be leaving Real Madrid for Brazil this summer.
