Report: Agnelli wants 18-team Serie A

By Football Italia staff

As Andrea Agnelli is ‘honoured’ to be re-elected ECA chairman, it is reported the Juventus patron wants only 18 teams in Europe’s top five Leagues.

Agnelli was reconfirmed at the helm of the European Club Association on Tuesday, his reign extended until 2023.

The 43-year-old told the organisation’s website: “I am honoured to have been re-elected to lead this organisation over the next four years and would like to place on record my strong appreciation to my fellow Board members for the trust they have placed in me.

“The coming years will be key as we look to reach decisions to ensure the long-term viability and well-being of the game in Europe.

“I believe ECA is in a strong position to meet this challenge with the mix of club leaders that will sit beside me on the Executive Board and look forward to the months ahead as we continue our work in shaping club football.”

He has already tried to install a new, three-tier European competition replacing the Champions League and Europa League, but his plans were thrown out by Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1, the Premier League and Bundesliga.

Nonetheless, L’Equipe writes Agnelli is still intent on increasing the number of European games played per season and would now like the top five divisions to be limited to 18 clubs.

“The last few months have seen ECA engage in a very detailed and thorough consultation process which has allowed members to share their views and opinions on what reform of UCCs should look like,” he added.

“The overall feedback clearly states that reform is needed and that more European matches are essential for the development of football as a whole.

“We will now enter the second phase of our consultation, which will look to develop a more concrete ECA vision for the future of UCCs.”

UCC refers to UEFA Club Competitions, which now have Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis and Milan CEO Ivan Gazidis on its executive committee.

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