Brazil considers breakaway league to rival Premier League

Brazil regularly generates some of the top soccer players in the world. Neymar, Vinicius, Gabriel Jesus, Rodrygo, and Richarlison currently headline a national team that is one of the most talented groups in the world. And that’s only their top attacking options. However, the country’s best players tend to transfer to European clubs. Officials inside Brazil want to change this.

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

Report suggests Brazil breakaway league imitates EPL

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

A club-led system would help generate big bucks when it comes to commercial opportunities and television rights. In turn, generating more money would allow clubs to offer players higher salaries. This could entice top players to remain in Brazil.

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

“We firmly believe that in 20 years we can be the second-biggest league in the world, only after the [English] Premier League,” Magrath continued. “We have the raw materials and a timezone that’s consumer-friendly globally for transmissions.”

Investment groups from Middle East, U.S. 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 fund, would potentially invest $890 million for a 20% interest in the project. The plan currently has the support of 26 out of the top clubs inside Brazil. A group of anonymous U.S. investors are also involved in negotiations as well.

Nevertheless, these discussions will continue to help please all parties involved. Some Brazilian clubs reportedly disagree over the split of potential broadcasting revenue. Bigger clubs such as Corinthians, Flamengo, and Palmeiras would most likely be looking for more money compared to the smaller teams involved.

A potential merger between the top two Brazil leagues is also on the table. This would mean that all of the top 40 clubs inside the country would possibly agree to a single proposal.

An updated broadcasting contract with television network Globo will also certainly be discussed this year as well. This could prove to be an opportune time to strike a fresh deal with a new league.

PHOTO: IMAGO / Sports Press Photo