Brazil considers breakaway league rival Premier League

Brazil regularly generates some of the best football players in the world. Neymar, Vinicius, Gabriel Jesus, Rodrygo and Richarlison currently lead a national team that is one of the most talented groups in the world. And those are only their best attack options. However, the country’s best players tend to move to European clubs. Officials in Brazil want to change this.

The Brasileirao is widely regarded as the best national league in South America. However, the league does not currently have a single club Forbes annual list of the most valuable teams in the world. However, more than half of this list consists of English Premier League clubs. This includes Leeds, Leicester City and West Ham.

Report suggests Brazil’s breakaway league imitates EPL

The Financial Times reports that club officials in Brazil want to try to emulate the Premier League to help grow domestic competition in the country with a new breakaway league. This would be done by transferring power from the national federation to the clubs proper.

A club-led system would help to make a lot of money when it comes to commercial opportunities and television rights. By generating more money, clubs would in turn be able to offer players higher salaries. This could entice top players to stay in Brazil.

“Our vision is that in 10 years we can reach the French league in terms of total revenue.” said Lawrence Magrath, co-founder of Codajas Sports Kapital.

“We firmly believe that in 20 years we can be the second largest league in the world, only behind the [English] Premier League,” Magrath continued. “We have the raw materials and a time zone that is globally consumer-friendly for broadcasting.”

Middle East, US investment groups in talks with teams

The aforementioned report claims that the group is currently in talks with Mubadala to help fund the move. Mubadala, an Abu Dhabi-based fund, could potentially invest $890 million for a 20% stake in the project. The plan currently has the support of 26 of the best clubs in Brazil. A group of anonymous American investors is also involved in the negotiations.

Nevertheless, these talks will continue to help all parties involved. Some Brazilian clubs reportedly disagree over the distribution of potential broadcasting revenue. Bigger clubs like Corinthians, Flamengo and Palmeiras would probably be looking for more money compared to the smaller teams involved.

A possible merger between the two top Brazilian leagues is also on the table. This would mean that all the top 40 clubs in the country could potentially agree to a single proposal.

A renewed broadcasting contract with television channel Globo will also be discussed this year. Now could be an opportune time to strike a new deal with a new league.

PHOTO: IMAGO / Sport press photo