Andrea Agnelli does not give up on the SuperLeague project. The Juventus president is clear in his introductory speech to the shareholders’ meeting, which takes place outdoors at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, in the presence of 78.55% of the share capital. «I didn’t give up on the SuperLeague project, I don’t want to give up today, I won’t give up tomorrow. It will be only through a constructive dialogue that a satisfactory dimension can be reached ».
Balance sheet and capital increase
On the agenda are the consolidated financial statements as at 30 June 2021, closed with a net loss of -209.9 million, the highest in the history of the club, the appointment of the new board of directors, the capital increase of 400 million, which follows the one of 300 million launched at the end of 2019. Agnelli said that “Covid has had an impact of about 320 million on the club in three years, of which 40% this year. With this exercise we intend to clean up the effects and confirm the validity of our industrial plan ». The balance sheet and the capital increase were approved by a large majority. The company is controlled by Exor, with 63.77% of the share capital.
“The pyramid of professional football is not sustainable”
The Juventus president spoke about what he considers structural problems in the sector. «Beyond the negative result of our club, I challenge you to prove that the current pyramid of professional football is sustainable. Everyone complains. Any attempt at reform is scuttled. The governance mechanism we have today does not allow anyone to take leadership. Whoever has the weight does not have the votes, whoever has the votes does not have the weight ».
The decision of the European Court is awaited
Speaking of the three founding clubs of the controversial SuperLeague project, made official on April 19 and then aborted, Agnelli said: «This year Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona, none have won the domestic championship, we all participate in the Champions League. The proposal of three clubs was rejected by 12 clubs ». He accused the “political class” of wanting to take decisions on the government of football without having the skills. “There are proceedings started and then canceled by UEFA. And today we are awaiting the ruling of the European Court of Justice. We must wait for the decision of the European Court before assuming the next steps ».
The Cfo Cerrato: development of the project not foreseeable
Juventus continues to believe in the European SuperLeague project, confirmed the CFO, Daniele Cerrato, who has taken over from other managers in the role a few months ago. Cerrato said: «The establishment of the SuperLeague club took place on April 19th. The intention was to reach a constructive dialogue with Fifa and Uefa. At present, the development of the project is absolutely not predictable, a project on whose legitimacy Juventus remains absolutely convinced ». Cerrato said that due to the closure of the stadium and the museum in the last financial year, there was a loss of revenues of 70 million “compared to a normal year”.