Gerard Pique makes dark prediction for Real Madrid, Barcelona: “Won’t be able to compete in Europe in five years” | OneFootball

Speaking at the 1st edition of the Business Sport Forum of Expansión and MARCA, former Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique has made a dark prediction about the future of Barça and Real Madrid in European football.

Pique, who retired from football in November last year, and started the Kings League project, discussed in length the system in place in European football and American football and how the lack of equality in economic structure in Europe could lead to problems for Real Madrid and Barcelona.

“It [American sport] is better structured for the franchises. In Europe it’s all in the hands of the players. Barça and Madrid are not going to be able to compete in the long run, this is obvious,” Pique said, as quoted by MARCA.

Further elaborating on the matter, the former defender added: “What happens in Europe? Each league is regulated differently. La Liga has a very strict Fair Play and other leagues have a different system. And then in Europe, you have to compete against those teams.

“As there is no regulation in terms of Fair Play, you are exposed to those clubs paying more through other channels, and we are going to end up with Barça and Madrid not being able to compete.”

“We are on the path where in five years, Barça and Madrid won’t be able to compete in Europe,” Pique remarked.

Pique against the Super League project

Pique also spoke about the European Super League project, spearheaded by Real Madrid, with Barcelona also being involved in the scheme.

Expressing his opposition to the project, the former Barça defender said: “The Super League is a closed league, and that’s where I’m against it. A Super League of 14, 16, or 30, there are a lot of teams that are going to be left out.”

“In the end, the big teams would gain a lot of value, but you would destroy an important part of football, which are perhaps second-tier teams but which have a brutal mass of fans and which in the long term would cease to exist,” he added.