July 6 – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he was “shocked” by the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union and that it could have a serious negative effect on the Premier League in the long term.
The Frenchman believes ‘Brexit’ will be a “spanner in the works” in terms of luring the best Spanish players to England.
In an exclusive interview with France Football, Wenger said: “It worries me, it shocks me too. England still has a good amount of financial resources. There is a margin in terms of the money that will come in again this year. But, in my opinion, it is overwhelmingly in the long-term that there are questions to be answered.
“The way in which England will leave the European Union will dictate the future of the Premier League. If the league becomes less attractive, the broadcasters will offer less money for the rights, club revenues will decrease and the Premier League will suffer the consequences. There lies the problem.
“The big English clubs have the means to keep hold of their biggest assets. The most important thing lies elsewhere. Currently, the league is seen as the most attractive one and that image could disappear. In the short term, clubs that are quite strong will be able to resist the competition but England is in the process of building a dominant Premier League.
“We thought that one day the best players from Real and Barca would say: “I also want to go to England because everyone is over there.” All of that is now uncertain and Brexit is a spanner in the works. It will have consequences, not in the very short term, but in the long term, yes.”
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