Manchester United beat Manchester City 2-1 on Sunday
Manchester United beat Manchester City 2-1 on Sunday
The inaugural European Super League caused chaos when it was launched over three years ago - but plans have been revealed for a revamped competition called the "Unify League".
Back in April 2021, the ESL was formed to rival or replace the Champions League, with Manchester United and Manchester City among the six Premier League clubs involved. However, the idea lasted less than 72 hours after huge backlash caused owners from across the teams to withdraw from the process.
But now, according to reports, there has been a revival of the ESL. The newly-formed 'Unify League' will have a new system where clubs qualify for the competition based on annual domestic performance which A22 explain aligns with the UEFA definition of the "European Sports Model" of "open competition".
READ MORE: Marcus Rashford admits he's ready to leave Manchester United in bombshell interview
READ MORE: I saw what Joshua Zirkzee did after Amad Diallo goal - Man United fans will love it
It's a development that United and City will be keeping an eye on, but what will it mean for them both? Our Business of Football Writer Dave Powell has explained the impact.
He said: "For Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur there remains an inescapable truth when it comes to the latest proposal from A22 to give rise to a new European Super League.
"The Unify League will comprise of four divisions and would be entirely merit based, and that is something that has shown a willingness to listen to feedback when it comes to the original plans, which were first for 15 permanent members, then a revised attempt at a 64-team competition light on detail.
"But the major sticking point lies with the fact that the big six Premier League clubs, which are the teams that drive the revenues for both the domestic and international competitions and the reason broadcasters pay a premium, have already been scolded once for the ESL plot back in 2021, and every time the prospect has been raised at each turn from A22 the answer has been the same, despite what A22 Bernd Reichart may have claimed publicly over the past year.
"They would likely need the blessing of the governing bodies, having been sanctioned last time and warned over punishments were they to try the same thing again in the future. It seems unlikely that what A22 are offering, even if it does contain the powerhouse of Real Madrid and the waning force of Barcelona, will be enough for them to feel this was the time to get a stomach for the fight.
"Real Madrid and Barcelona’s motives are clear. They are the biggest fishes in La Liga, effectively great whites in a goldfish bowl when it comes to finances. But in order to stay ahead they need to generate more from European competition as they cannot glean more domestically.
"The Premier League teams can, and they know that at some stage an ESL proposal will arrive that is more palatable to football fans, and offers richer rewards, although that remains some way off.
"UEFA also bent some way with the revamped ‘Swiss Model’ to make the Champions League more lucrative and deliver more games. There has already been jeopardy in the competition through Manchester City and Real Madrid’s struggles to reach the latter stages, and that is good for the UEFA cause.
"The biggest clubs also want greater certainty over revenues. Central to A22’s plan is the creation of a streaming platform to show games for free with ads, and charge for games without ads. Funding that, and getting the required amount of big teams to sign up to make it compelling for subscribers, will be no small challenge, and one that will likely be too great. It’s hard to see the development on Tuesday changing much for UEFA or the prospects of England’s top clubs in European competition."