Wenger predicts European league within 10 years

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reckons the top European clubs’ mega-money ambitions could force the creation of a fully-fledged continental superleague within 10 years.

The Frenchman said even the sums being raked in through the Champions League were not enough for the top clubs because the money is controlled by UEFA, the European football authority, rather than the clubs themselves.

Wenger said he thought moves were already being made to bring about such a league.

“I see more of a European League developing in time,” Wenger said.

“The national leagues will survive, but maybe in 10 years you will have a European League.

“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 percent 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 such a league was created, “the question is whether clubs will transfer from a national league or whether it is a franchised European league,” he said.

“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.”

Arsenal, who finished fourth in the English Premier League last season, are taking on Scottish runners-up Celtic on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League qualifying round tie, with a group stage place on offer for the winners.

The creation of the G14 group — a gang of Europe’s elite top clubs, including the likes of Manchester United, AC Milan, Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid — in the 1990s was seen by some as an attempt to force a club-controlled European league.

Meanwhile the top clubs from Scotland, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands and Scandinavia mooted the idea of forming an “Atlantic League” between them early this decade to provide the tough competition lacking in their domestic leagues.