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Man City's stance on European Super League 2.0 as new breakaway emerges

When the European Super League launched to a furious reception in April 2021, Man City were supposedly the last of the English clubs to sign up.

Like supporters of Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Man United, Man City fans took to the streets to protest the breakaway league.

It promptly fell apart – within 48 hours of its launch, in fact.

A sign which reads 'Shame On You' is placed between two Manchester City scarves outside the Etihad Stadium on April 20, 2021 in Manchester, England...

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That was held up as a shining example of how collective action in football can defeat even a multi-billion dollar project led by JP Morgan and the sport’s most powerful executives.

However, A22 Sports Management – the firm representing the two remaining Super League Clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona – remain confident that they will one day be able to relaunch.

The El Classico duo have won several battles in the courts in the European Union, which they hope will give other Super League-curious clubs a prompt to sign up.

Now, the Super League rebels are also speaking to English clubs to get them to sign up for a revised version of the competition.

Man City have repeatedly distanced themselves from the Super League, but with A22 now briefing that they are confident of getting the blessing of English clubs, could their position have changed?

Man City side with Paris Saint-Germain in Super League saga

A new report from Mundo Deportivo, a reliable Spanish outlet, claims that A22 have spoken with over 100 clubs with a view to gauging their interest in a revived Super League.

Significantly, they are confident that at least 60 of those clubs are likely to sign up when they eventually go live with the relaunch.

For English clubs, it was presumed that the imminent introduction of an independent football regulator could block any attempts to join up.

However, FIFA rules that stipulate that governments cannot get involved in matters of football governance could act as a counterweight here, TBR understands.

A general view during the FA Cup Quarter Final between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on March 16, 2024 in Manchester, Engl...

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The article meanwhile suggests that the ‘powerful English clubs’ are all broadly in favour of the competition, despite what their executives have said publicly to the contrary.

But Man City are the exception.

Alongside Paris Saint-Germain, another club whose de-facto owners are the royal family of a Gulf state, City are said to remain in staunch opposition to the Super League.

What might a revamped European Super League might look like?

The main criticism aimed at the European Super League in its April 2021 form was that it was unmeritocratic.

This time, A22 are looking to sidestep these accusations with a promotion and relegation system that could, in theory, see any club play in the top division.

It is also said that the competition would be run in mid-week and alongside, as opposed to in place of, domestic European leagues.

Manchester City corner flag with a logo / badge on during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City and FK Crvena Zvezda at Etihad St...

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To fend off charges of giving players unmanageable workloads, the competition would feature 19 games for the winning team.

That is two more than whoever wins this season’s Champions League winner will play.

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