Barcelona chief Joan Laporta is not a fan of the original plans for a European Super League, even though his club have stood by the proposal.
Along with 11 other European heavyweights, Barca attempted to form a breakaway competition in April 2021.
However, nine of the 12 teams withdrew due to the unpopularity of the proposals, with UEFA s reaction particularly strong.
The sides nevertheless avoided any meaningful punishment and three clubs – Barca, Real Madrid and Juventus – remain committed to a Super League.
However, Laporta, who succeeded Josep Maria Bartomeu as Barca president in March of last year, does not believe a closed-shop Super League would be the correct way to go.
Indeed, Laporta believes keeping alive the chance of smaller teams winning major competitions is crucial.
I think that playing between the big clubs would end up tiring, he said in an interview for the Sonora project.
Those of us who like football, [it] would end up tiring us. It s nice and healthy that a smaller team beats the big one.
You find that a European Championship is won by Greece and it is very nice. And when Leicester [City] won in England it was special. This is football.
All the Open Days are days of great emotion and happiness because they demonstrate that we continue to promote Johan s life project.
— Joan Laporta Estruch (@JoanLaportaFCB)
I entered the Super League as Barca s representative with everything already well advanced. My criteria was, leave a closed league, we have to make an open Super League, where there is a meritocracy.
Another thing that we have to combine is the Super League with the leagues of each country. For me that is very important. I believe in the leagues of each country and for me it would be a mistake for the Super League to replace the leagues.
Laporta believes further tweaks to the Champions League, despite a new 36-team format having already been announced for the 2024-25 season onwards, are required, however.
He explained: [We] need an improved Champions League, with a very good competition format, which will surely be the most attractive competition in the world.
But at the same time you have to maintain the [domestic] leagues, this is essential.
