The influential management figure says change could be coming to the top levels of football
Andrea Agnelli, chair of the European Club Association, says he wants to see changes in the transfer market, introducing a rule that could bar Champions League clubs from buying and selling to each other. It is also open to limiting the amount of money to sell to triple figures.
Movement taxes have skyrocketed in recent years and, as a result of the coronavirus, clubs around the world are hurting financially.
In response, Agnelli, who is also president of Juventus, is fascinated by a rule that would see the world’s top clubs unable to buy from each other, instead forcing them to look to teams and smaller leagues.
What was said?
“Transitions may not make triple figures between Champions League participating clubs [mean] focusing the place on champion players in smaller countries allows us to just buy players there, ”said Agnelli.
“These are elements that we are talking about but cost control is certainly one of the biggest challenges of ongoing reforms.”
Changes to domestic leagues
In addition to changes in the market, Angelli also says that he believes changes are coming to domestic and European records.
Agnelli has revealed that he has been “fighting” with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin over the future of football, adding that he believes the system needs to change to make today’s fans more today to introduce.
The Premier League has generally pushed back against proposals for change, but Agnelli believes English football needs to change.
“If we look back in time the Champions League had four more games than it does today,” said Agnelli. “I think the international third is the balance we are trying to strike [European competition] and two-thirds domestic. We can look at the full calendar, we have countries like England with the largest number of games at 53, If I am not mistaken, Germany is 43 and so is Italy.
“We believe there are currently 20 teams in leagues for competitive balancing purposes. There is a whole element that can be worked out perfectly for the benefit of all. ”
At the same time, the Champions League may move towards a transition to a “Swiss system” that would include 36 teams in a single league table.
“I think we are very close to my real Champions League, I think the Swiss system is beautiful,” he said. “I think it will provide great opportunities for those teams taking part in that competition.
“It will deliver the blows that are at the heart of any competition. It is very, very close to a very good Champions League. We may be just a week or two away.”