Giorgio Chiellini has dismissed some Serie A teams as “in the way” in a fresh call for the European Super League.
The Juventus veteran backed the controversial plans to supersede the Champions League in the spring, before fan protests led to the concept’s collapse. In addition, he hopes to see the Italian top-flight reduced from 20 teams.
“There are some Serie A teams who are in the way,” he told DAZN Italia.
“We really ought to go back to 16 teams, but I think 18 would allow the league to be more competitive and give extra space to European-level fixtures.”
Juventus sit eighth in Serie A having suffered defeats to Hellas Verona and Sassuolo in recent weeks, while also being pushed close by newly-promoted Spezia.
Chiellini believes the European Super League is inevitable and is in favour of the concept after discussions with club president Andrea Agnelli.
“I’ve been talking to [Agnelli] for a few years now about this,” Chiellini continued.
“The future of football is increasingly towards a European approach compared to national leagues. A player at Juve’s level wants to play those games, with all due respect. Athletes of our level, but also perhaps the fans, want to see more of these European level fixtures.
“We have reached the point of no return. Institutions, clubs and players must meet to reform the calendar and create new competitions to relaunch this sport, which remains the most beautiful in the world, but can also be improved.
“In the USA, who are masters of this sort of thing, they created Super Leagues in every sport.”
