'Uefa's monopoly is over, it’s time for a new era'

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez says the European Super League will "save football at this critical moment" and insists that Uefa's monopoly has come to an end through this breakaway Super League.

The Spaniard's comments come after 12 leading European clubs committed to join a new tournament that will begin "as soon as is practicable".

Speaking for the first time since the announcement, the new chairman of the Super League said football needed to evolve.

"It's over. Their monopoly is over. It's time for a new era," Perez said while answering some questions to El Chiringuito on Monday night.

"Everything I do, I do it for the good of football. 40% of young people aren't interested in football, because there are too many games of low quality. And we had to adapt," said Perez.

Perez insisted the clubs will earn much more than they earn now from the Uefa competitions. 

Perez stressed the top teams were losing money, largely due to the coronavirus pandemic, and that the expanded Champions League announced by Uefa on Monday was not the answer.

"If we continue with the Champions League there is less and less interest and then it's over," he said.

"The new format, which starts in 2024 is absurd. In 2024 we are all dead."

"Together we have lost €5 billion," he said of the top clubs' alleged losses.

Perez mentioned that in those two seasons Madrid have lost €400m.

"We have created the Super League to save football. If you win the Champions League, you will receive €120-130M from Uefa. But, with the Super League, we will earn much more."

"When you have no other revenue, apart from broadcasting rights, you have to find a solution to create more attractive games that allow fans from around the world to see the big clubs playing against each other. The Super League will generate more money. It's more attractive," added Perez on the situation.

Very recently, Uefa had released an official statement in which the association told that teams that participate in the Super League, would be banned from the Champions League. According to Perez, however, that will not happen:

"No, no teams will be kicked from their domestic leagues either. It is all empty threats. Madrid will continue in this edition of the Champions League as scheduled."

"None of them will be expelled, that's for sure. I'm completely sure of it. Not from Champions (League), not from La Liga, nothing like that," he added.

"If we reach an agreement with Uefa we want to start (the new league) in August, if not, we can wait a year."

"Football needs to be more attractive globally. Games like Manchester vs. Barcelona will be better than Manchester vs. a smaller team."

The founding group of 12 is completed by Italian clubs AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus. Another three will be included as guaranteed members and five others will qualify to join them each year.

The move has plunged the game of football into turmoil and triggered widespread condemnation across both sport and society, but Perez brushed off the criticism and played up the prospect of more big games.

"What's so attractive? That we play among the big teams, the competitiveness, to generate more resources?" he added.

"This is not a league for the rich, it's a league to save football."

The football world is overall unhappy about the initiative, as they believe it damages the spirit of the beautiful game.

However, it looks like there is no going back from here for the founding clubs of the new league. It remains to be seen whether Perez could reach an agreement with Uefa and the domestic leagues.