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RAUL SANLLEHI insists that Arsenal will continue to lead the discussions about a proposed European Super League.
The Gunners’ new head of football admits that he has been heavily involved in the talks about possible changes to the European format.
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But he rules out any challenge to UEFA’s authority within the next four years and says Arsenal remain fully committed to remaining within the Premier League.
The recent Football Leaks revelations confirmed SunSsport’s exclusive story that Arsenal have been in talks with Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Juventus about a new competition for Europe’s elite clubs.
Spaniard Sanllehi, who joined Arsenal from Barcelona in February, said: “There definitely isn’t going to be a major revolution in the near future because we have an agreement with UEFA right now.
“But we have to be responsible because Arsenal is an incredible jewel and we need to make sure we are always in the driving seat of anything that may happen in the future.
Getty
Getty
“We need to be involved in these discussions so we can be aware of what is being proposed and can then decide in a responsible way whether that is the direction to take or not. There is a constant momentum for change so we always have to look at improvements of the status quo.
“We are very proud to be in the Premier League because it is the best competition in the world. It’s extremely exciting and competitive and it’s something that we will always value. But we also want to be in involved in the best continental competition and we have to look at all the options for the future.”
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Sanllehi confirmed that the discussions about a breakaway European Super League, which could also include Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Marseille and Roma, first started while he was still Barcelona’s director of football.
But he denies suggestions that the clubs have already signed up as founder members and is adamant that they have not been operating in secret.
He added: “It was a conversation that we didn’t hide from anyone. The way things have been explained may seem we were doing secret things, but there is nothing secret.
“Basically, as members of the European Club Association, we had a working team that had to look at all our future options. One of them could have been the possibility of a European Super League and we explored that option out of our responsibility as the managers of the top clubs.
“We looked at it in two ways. The first was as a real possibility and the second was as a way of helping us to negotiate new terms with UEFA. And at the end of the day we got the best possible outcome because we reached a new deal with UEFA with a system which protected the domestic leagues.
“What has happened is that the Champions League has become much more interesting because there are tougher teams now playing and the revenues have increased. But the misleading thing about the recent Sports Leak article is the report that there is a document which has been signed by Arsenal and by Barcelona.
“I can assure you that there is no signature and that we have not seen that document. I can’t deny that it is a real document but it is probably just a draft proposal discussed with one of the clubs in that list that I don’t know about.”
Managing director Vinai Venkatesham added: “We have never been interested in playing in any competition that weakens or damages the Premier League.
“I see these articles that Arsenal want to breakaway, but we never want to do any of that. We have to be involved in these conversations or we wouldn’t be responsible, but it doesn’t necessarily mean we support them.”
Arsenal's scout has struck gold… but who is next on Diamond Eye Sven Mislintat’s list?
ARSENAL have been famously stringent in transfer windows ever since swapping Highbury for the Emirates.
Years have passed and the Gunners have been left in the dust of big-spending Manchester City – and their money-bags top six rivals.
But thanks to one man, money might not be the be-all and end-all… Sven Mislintat.
The German was appointed Arsenal's chief scout a year ago – almost to the day – in a bid to get the club ready to be competitive for decades to come.
And despite the club rarely spending big, they've already had huge success with the comparatively cheap buys of Mateo Guendouzi (£7million) and Lucas Torreira (£27m).
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT WHO IS NEXT ON HIS HITLIST.
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