The concept of a "European Super League" consisting of the best football clubs from across Europe has been discussed for years and has occasionally been officially proposed, but the idea has not yet got off the ground. In 1998, Italian company Media Partners seriously investigated the idea.[1] The plan died after UEFA moved to expand the Champions League competition and do away with the Cup Winners' Cup in order to better accommodate clubs that were considering defecting in order to join the proposed Super League.[2] In July 2009, Real Madrid's Florentino Pérez championed the idea. In August 2009, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger predicted a super league would become reality within 10 years time due to revenue pressure on the continent's elite teams.[3]
On July 4, 2009, Florentino Pérez criticized the current Champions League, saying "we have to agree a new European Super League which guarantees that the best always play the best - something that does not happen in the Champions League."[4] Perez stated that he would push for a break-away competition featuring Europe's traditional powerhouses if UEFA didn't do more to ensure these teams played each other annually.[5]
Under Perez's plan, the continent's best teams would remain part of their respective national systems, but would be guaranteed the opportunity to play each other at the conclusion of the regular league season.[5]