MARCUS RASHFORD has come out AGAINST the European Super League on social media.
The Man Utd star becomes the biggest name player from one of the 12 participating clubs to condemn the plans backed by the Red Devils owners.
Meanwhile Premier League clubs are considering EXPELLING United and the other five clubs who signed up to the new competition.
Stay up to date with our blog, below, for all the latest from Old Trafford…
- Josh Graham
MARC MY WORDS
Marcus Rashford has tweeted a powerful image of the Old Trafford stands showing a banner with the Matt Busby quote: "Football is nothing without fans."
The England man shared the photo in the wake of the hugely controversial Super League breakaway with Manchester United one of the 'founders'.
- Josh Graham
CON JOB
Manchester United fan Connor Kennedy showed his fury at the club joining the league outside Old Trafford.
Credit: PA - Josh Graham
BACK INVOLVED
Eric Bailly is back in Manchester United training after testing positive Covid-19.
- Josh Graham
CANT BELIEVE IT
Eric Cantona has had his say on the Super League – power to the fans!
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Eric Cantona (@ericcantona)
- Josh Graham
FANS FIRST
Boris Johnson today held a crisis summit with football bosses over the European Super League and backed Prem bosses to kick out the ‘Big Six’ if they want to.
The PM vowed not to stand by “while a small handful of owners create a closed shop” and promised to back fans all the way.
PM vowed to do all he could to stop it from going ahead in a meeting with top footie bosses.
Downing Street said today the PM “expressed his solidarity with football fans and agreed they must always be at the heart of any decisions about the future of the game.”
They added: “He reiterated his unwavering support for the football authorities and confirmed they have the government’s full backing to take whatever action necessary to put a stop to these plans.
“All attendees agreed that action was necessary to protect the fairness and open competition we expect to see in football, and to uphold the fundamental principle that any club should have the chance to play and win against the biggest players in the game.
“The Prime Minister confirmed the government will not stand by while a small handful of owners create a closed shop.
“He was clear that no action is off the table and the government is exploring every possibility, including legislative options, to ensure these proposals are stopped.”
- Josh Graham
TIME TO CHANGE YOUR MIND
Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin today made a personal plea to the Prem Big Six to admit to their “mistake” and recant the decision to sign up to a breakaway Super League.
In a remarkable direct statement to Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, United and City, Ceferin’s address to the Uefa Congress in Montreux urged the six to reflect on the damage they were on the verge of dealing to English and world football and to the fans who “bleed themselves dry” for their clubs.
Ceferin, who branded the owners of the rebel 12 as turning their backs on the heritage and integrity of football, recognises Real Madrid and Juventus are now too far gone to come back into the fold.
But while Liverpool and United were the two English ringleaders, the Slovenian clearly feels an emotional appeal could yet bring a U-turn.
Ceferin said: “I would like to address the owners of some English clubs.
“Gentlemen, you have made a huge mistake. Some will say it is greed, others disdain, arrogance, flippancy or complete ignorance of England’s football culture. Actually, it doesn't matter.
“What matters is that there is still time to change your mind. Everyone makes mistakes in life. English fans deserve to have you correct your mistake. They deserve respect.”
Credit: Reuters - Josh Graham
BECK OFF BILLIONAIRES
David Beckham has lashed out at European Super League plans and blasted: "Football is in danger."
Former Manchester United star Becks took to Instagram to demand the game we love is protected.
Inter Miami owner David Beckham spoke out on the Super League The 45-year-old wrote on his Instagram: "I’m someone who loves football.
"It has been my life for as long as I can remember. I loved it from when I was a young child as a fan, and I’m still a fan now.
"As a player and now as an owner I know that our sport is nothing without the fans. We need football to be for everyone. We need football to be fair and we need competitions based on merit.
"Unless we protect these values the game we love is in danger…"
- Josh Graham
SUPER LEAGUE LATEST
Cracks are ‘starting to appear’ in the European Super League plans with two Premier League clubs ‘losing nerve’ after the furious fan backlash.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have cancelled an all-staff meeting scheduled for Tuesday to explain the club’s ESL plans.
The Reds were joined by Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs signing up for the new closed-shop breakaway franchise.
As founding members, they would be guaranteed involvement every season for 23 years with huge financial gain while abandoning the English game.
The remaining ‘angry and dismayed’ 14 Premier League clubs are meeting today to discuss how to deal with the other six – and could even order them to quit the division.
And now, according to the Daily Mail, seeds of doubt are creeping in with two of the six top-flight English rebels ‘close to losing their nerve’.
It is thought their support of the proposed ESL is ‘wavering’ – although it is unclear whether that will mean a U-turn in their plans.
- Josh Graham
GARY ON THE CHARGE
Gary Neville is continuing his call for people to pressurise the breakaway Big Six.
- Josh Graham
WAYNE'S WORLD
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney called on fans to not 'jump the gun' on the breakaway Super League.
- Josh Graham
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
Manchester United can't leave the breakaway Super League even if they change their mind, according to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
The Super League's chairman told El Chiringuito: "The contract of the Super League is binding.
"Nobody can leave, we will work all together.
"All the clubs signed the contracts last Saturday, there's no problem."
- Josh Graham
YOUS PLEASE
Manchester United and Liverpool have entered the race sign Sevilla forward Youssef En-Nesyri this summer, according to reports.
But West Ham remain in the driving seat to secure the Moroccan's signature.
The Red Devils are in the running for Sevilla's Youssef En-NesyriCredit: Alamy The Hammers tried to sign En-Nesyri to replace Sebastian Haller in January but their £26.7million bid was knocked back.
David Moyes' side remain keen on the 23-year-old, and are expected to up their offer at the end of the season.
But, according to Estadio Deportivo, Man United and Liverpool see the striker as a potential alternative to the in-demand Erling Haaland.
Sevilla are rumoured to be willing to let go of their leading goalscorer for around £40m, despite efforts to renew his contract – although his current deal does still have four years left to run.
- James Orr
RAPH RACE
United are set to face off with Chelsea in the race for Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, according to reports.
The Frenchman, 27, could ask to leave the Bernabeu this summer ahead of his contract expiring in 2022.
Real would not want to lose their man on a free in a year's time and are said to favour cashing in if he won't sign a new contract.
That has opened the door for Chelsea and United in their quest to bolster their defence.
It had previously been suggested in the Spanish media that Varane was edging towards Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is thought to have made a new partner for Harry Maguire his transfer priority.
- Jack Figg
EF-HELL
The ‘Big Six’ claim they do not just want to sail off into the Super League sunset and sink the rest.
But irrespective of their motives and the post-Covid financial squeeze, the consequences for those left behind will be immense.
As Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City and United turn their backs on Uefa and join the money hunt they will:
As Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City and United turn their backs on Uefa and join the money hunt they will:
- Cause a £35million-per-club drop in Premier League TV revenues — even if they stay in the top flight
- See that figure drop by more than double if they are banned from playing in the Prem
- Render the league’s “top-four” race redundant
- Smash a huge hole in the potential value of top-flight clubs
- Make clubs ponder whether stadium expansion or rebuilding plans have any real merit
- See a huge knock-on impact on the Championship, where many clubs are already on the brink
- And bring the very existence of clubs in Leagues One and Two under real and genuine threat — despite promises of a huge cash windfall.
TROY DEENEY SPEAKS OUT ABOUT THE ESL
In an exclusive column with The Sun, Deeney writes: "In my heart of hearts, I believe — and I hope — that a breakaway European Super League will not happen.
"But the threat is real and the questions, for footballers as well fans, are endless. Will Watford be promoted into a Premier League without the Big Six next season?
"Will we ever see another story as inspiring as Jamie Vardy’s, who rose from non-league to Leicester, where he won promotion, won the Premier League and played in the Champions League?
"Will Harry Kane have to choose between playing Super League football with Tottenham or breaking the England goalscoring record because players from the proposed “rebel” league will have been banned from the international game?
"There are a million more questions — but one thing we know for certain is the owners of English football’s Big Six do not care too much about their own loyal match-going supporters.
"Because fans of the breakaway clubs hate the idea of ruining football’s pyramid system as much as anyone else.The vast majority do not want a breakaway league."
READY TROY DEENEY'S FULL COLUMN HERE
- Jack Figg
LIONS IN WAIT
England's starting XI at the World Cup in 2022 without 'Big Six' stars could see some fan-favourite players getting their chance.
Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and the two Manchester clubs have signed up to a 20-team breakaway European Super League.
The Premier League's so-called 'Big Six' are joined by Spanish trio Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Italian sides Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus.
But Uefa and Fifa have threatened ESL players they will be BANNED from representing their national teams.
And while that may rule out many of Gareth Southgate's top players including Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire, plenty of others would be ready to jump at the chance to represent the Three Lions in Qatar next winter.
Here SunSport names an 11 who WOULD be eligible to play.
- Jack Figg
NEVILLE HITS BACK
In response to Klopp, he said: “I don’t know what spiked him. Yesterday was a passionate rant from me to defend football.
“I’ve equally distributed enough criticism to both Manchester United and Liverpool over the last 24 hours. So I don’t know what his problem is.
“He talks about hotseat, I had a 25-year career at Manchester United, an 11-year career at Sky and I’ve earned that.
“I didn’t go where the most money is. I didn’t have choices. Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t say ‘do you want to stay here every single day?’.
“I have no idea what he’s talking about. I employ 600 people in my city. I’ve tried to keep them employed during a pandemic.
“Is that not a hot enough seat for him?”
- Jack Figg
JUR JOKING
Jurgen Klopp fired a shot at Garry Neville after the Manchester United legend referenced Liverpool’s ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ anthem when spouting his rage at the proposed European Super League.
But Klopp responded: “Gary Neville talks about ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, that should be forbidden to be honest.
“We have a lot of rights to sing that anthem and it’s our anthem, not his anthem. He doesn’t understand it anyway so I really don’t want these things because it’s not fair.
“All the talk is around and I don’t like it as well, but I don’t talk about other clubs like this. We can be emotional but I wish Gary Neville would be in a hot seat somewhere, not where the most money is.
“Whether it’s at Man United where the most money is, Sky where the most money is. Don’t forget that we have nothing to do with it.
“We are in the same situation as you all, we got information and we still had to play football and you deal with us already like this. That’s really not OK.”
- Jack Figg
LEED THE WAY
Leeds trolled Liverpool after their 1-1 draw by refusing to refer to their club name.
The English champions are one of the six Premier League clubs pushing ahead in the proposed European Super League.
In response, Leeds referred to them simply as – Merseyside Red – very similar to the name given to them on the video game Pro Evolution Soccer.
- Jack Figg
EU CANT PASS
Fans attempted to stop Liverpool team buses from entering Elland Road ahead of tonight's match against Leeds.
The actions of the fans, who could be from either club, were a protest against Liverpool's decision to join the European Super League.
Liverpool are the first member of the newly-found ESL to play a Premier League game since news of the competition broke yesterday.
The reigning champions have agreed to join the ESL along with Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.
The Premier League's so-called 'Big Six' have joined Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan in creating the league.
Presuming they go ahead, the plans will see a £4.6BILLION pot backed by JP Morgan split between the 'dirty dozen' – as many have described the clubs – and relegation scrapped.
Those protesting outside Elland Road may well have been by Leeds fans – or even just football fans in general – considering the overwhelmingly negative response to the breakaway league.
Marcelo Bielsa's team have already shown their disgust at the plans – wearing T-shirts with the words 'EARN IT' emblazoned across the front as they warmed up for tonight's game.
- Jack Figg
JAMES MILNER SPEAKS OUT
The ex-England international was asked about the proposed European Super League after Liverpool’s draw at Leeds.
Asked when he heard about the news of the ESL, Milner says: “Same as everyone else I think when it broke yesterday. That was the first we had heard of it.”
Milner asked on his opinion of the ESL: “I don’t know I think it’s the same as everyone, there’s a lot of questions. My personal opinion, I don’t like it and hopefully it doesn’t happen.”
The stand-in Liverpool skipper was asked what he doesn’t like about the ESL, he responds: “Probably the same reasons as everybody else who has been talking out over the last day.
“Obviously it’s been difficult for us, we’ve tried to prepare for the game but I can only imagine what’s been said about it and probably agree with most of it.”
Asked if he felt the negative response to Liverpool players was underserved, he says: “I think the players obviously have no say, so the welcome we got to the ground tonight was a bit unjust because obviously we’re here to play football and in no control of it.
“But for us we just need to get on the field and try and finish strong.”
- Jack Figg
MORE FROM BAMFORD
Asked about wearing the T-shirts in protest of the ESL, he said: “For me personally, from what I’ve seen on Twitter and the news, I haven’t seen one football fan that’s happy about the decision.
“I think football ultimately is for the fans. Without the fans every single club would be pretty much nothing.
“So I think it’s important we stand our ground and show that football is for the fans and keep it that way.”
- Jack Figg
PAT ON THE BACK
Patrick Bamford asked about the proposed European Super League.
He replied: "We've just seen pretty much what everyone else has seen on Twitter and stuff.
"It's amazing just the things that they're talking about. I can't quite comprehend, it's amazing the amount of uproar that comes into the game when somebody's pockets are being hurt.
"It's a shame it's not like that with other things that go wrong at the minute, with racism and stuff like that, but it's just how it is at the minute."
- Jack Figg
BORIS JOHNSON ADDRESSES THE NATION
In a world exclusive, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has wrote a column in The Sun to address the proposed European Super League.
He writes: "Anyone who has watched me play football or played with me in the same match will know that I am far from an expert on the beautiful game.
"But you don’t need to be an expert to horrified at the prospect of the so-called “Super League” being cooked up by a small number of clubs.
"You only need a pulse to know that football is not a brand or a product. In fact it’s so much more than even a sport.
"Football clubs in every town and city and at every tier of the pyramid have a unique place at the heart of their communities, and are an unrivalled source of passionate local pride.
"And the joy of the game’s current structure, one that has kept people coming back year after year, generation after generation, is that even the most seemingly endless period of frustration is made bearable by the possibility, however remote, that one day you could see them rise up.
"After all if Leicester City can win the Premier League, if Nottingham Forest can be champions of Europe not once but twice then maybe, just maybe, your team can do the same.
"But that can only happen if the playing field is even vaguely level and the ability to progress is universal."
READ THE PM'S FULL COMMENT SECTION HERE
Credit: PA - Jack Figg
ROO WHAT?
Man Utd legend Wayne Rooney had his say on the proposed ESL.
He said: “The people in charge of these clubs are not stupid.
“The only hope is the English Premier League is protected and rewarded in some way.
“I am sure the Premier League will always be a priority for clubs.
“The protection of the Premier League and football pyramid is the most important thing.
“I am sure whatever discussions these clubs are having, that will be taken into consideration.
“If this is something on top of what we have already got and the competitions they are playing in , then it is a decision for those clubs to take.
“If it is something that is going to help Non League and Championship, League one and League Two, rather than jump the gun I think we should wait and see what information comes out.
“It might be some good comes from it.
“I think football is working fine at the minute, let's see if they are looking to improve that or whether it is a backward step.”
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