Juve chief admits defeat but his comments reveal the truth

Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli spoke to the media on Wednesday morning and admitted that the proposed Super League couldn’t proceed since the six English clubs decided to pull out. Despite putting on a brave display the previous night, the Italian automotive industry magnate had to acknowledge that the 12 clubs’ attempt of breaking away is a no-go.

"To be frank, it’s impossible now when only six clubs remained. The project cannot continue. I am convinced that it was a good idea, but you cannot do a six-team tournament."

If you needed to know why do the richest clubs want to break away, then Tuesday’s quotes from Agnelli offer some insight in the way Super League founders are thinking.

“Football is no longer a game but an industrial sector and stability is needed. Even at home. In Europe, the game that is worth the most is not the Champions League final but the play-offs of the English first division to access the Premier League: 150 million. This is not stability. We need strict economic and financial rules such as those established in the Super League."

He might as well be speaking about farming, car manufacturing or tourism. Incredibly, Agnelli went on to draw a parallel between football and computer games.

"The Super League simulates what young people do on digital platforms in competition with Call of Duty, FIFA or Fortnite. They’ll press reset without remorse when things don’t work out like they wanted, they adjust some things in the online editor, and start a new game."

The way potential customers are seen by the football executives casts a long, dark shadow over the game we came to love. Make no mistake, the big clubs’ owners won’t give up completely on their idea. The proverbial war is still ongoing, although the people have won a battle in recent days. Agnelli himself is still all for the Super League.

"I remain convinced of the beauty of that project, of the value that it would have developed to the pyramid, of the creation of the best competition in the world, but evidently no. I don't think that project is now still up and running."

Manchester City were the first club to pull out after Chelsea had signalled their intent to do so by preparing documentation to withdraw. The other four English sides - Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham - then followed suit late on Tuesday evening.

Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid also officially confirmed their withdrawal as they no longer wish to be involved with the project.

They may say that it’s all over but they still need their customers. It’s far from over.