Everton and Middlesbrough man hits out at European Super League proposals
Middlesbrough and Everton winger Yannick Bolasie has hit out at the European Super League proposals as England’s ‘big six’ threaten to form a breakaway competition.
It emerged over the weekend that Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City have all agreed to become founding members of the inaugural Super League, which would replace the UEFA Champions League.
A statement on Sunday indicated the aforementioned clubs would be joined by Italian trio AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus, as well as Spanish clubs Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid in a 20-team competition.
The format would see the 20 teams split into two groups of ten before progressing to knockout stages.
A statement from the European Super League read: "Twelve of Europe's leading football clubs have today come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new mid-week competition, the Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs."
The news has been met with a huge backlash among the football community, with UEFA, the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A all opposing the plans.
Bolasie, who joined Boro on loan from Everton in January, was one of many who took to Twitter to express their disgust.
The 31-year-old wrote: “Some real mercenaries...all values and history thrown out the window.”
Bolasie later tweeted: “I was a fan before I played football, I’m a fan now and will be after I finish playing...it’s not about me or anyone else it’s about the millions of fans who follow their teams week in week out regardless of success/riches..funny how it starts getting more level & man jump.”