Nasser Al-Khelaifi sent a strong message. During the annual meeting of the European Football Clubs (EFC) in Rome, the president of Paris Saint-Germain spoke publicly on the future of European football. A speech which contained a direct challenge addressed to Real Madrid, a club which finds itself increasingly isolated in the continental football landscape.
Al-Khelaifi: “We want you back in the family”
“We are a family. We want everyone to come back, that's true. Real Madrid too, we want everyone back,” Al-Khelaifi said. The Qatari reaches out to the Merengue by inviting them to abandon their Super League project : “It’s their family and their house, it’s everyone’s house. We don't need any other competition. Today we have the best club competition, and with even better formats. »
This call follows the growing isolation of Real Madrid, which remains the last major club to actively defend the Super League project after its spectacular collapse in 2021. Florentino Pérez continues to insist that this closed competition is “ more necessary than ever” For
“save football”a position which no longer finds echo among its former allies.
Barça lets go of Madrid, Real alone in the world
The situation got even worse for Real with the turnaround of FC Barcelona. Joan Laporta, Blaugrana president, was present in Rome and confirmed the rapprochement with PSG and UEFA:
“We are for the peace of European football. We want to find an agreement and return to UEFA. »
A betrayal in the eyes of Florentino Pérez, who thus loses his main ally in this fight.
Al-Khelaifi, crowned with PSG's European title last season, now plays a central role in the governance of continental football. His call to Real sounds like a last chance offered to Madrilenians to reintegrate the “family” before definitive isolation. But knowing Pérez's stubbornness, a step back seems unlikely.
