Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that the financial power of some of Europe’s top football clubs has destroyed competition in a number of leagues across the continent.
The Premier League’s outlay on players since last summer topped £1.8bn at the close of the January transfer window and financial services firm Deloitte predict that spending by clubs in the world’s richest league could soon exceed £2bn.
Ahead of Arsenal’s match with Everton on Saturday, Wenger said that the level of spending by certain clubs has killed competition in France, Germany, England and Spain.
“When you look at the five big leagues in Europe, in December we already knew four champions,” said Wenger at the pre-match press conference.
“That means something is not right in our game. The huge financial power of some clubs is basically destroying the competition.”
PSG are currently 11 points ahead of Lyon in Ligue 1 and have spent €383 million on players this season compared to Lyon’s €63 million.
Manchester City are 15 points ahead of Manchester United in the Premier League and have spent €316 million compared to United’s €164 million.
Barcelona are 11 points clear of Atletico Madrid in La Liga and have spent €324 million on players compared to Atletico’s €102 million, while in the Bundesliga, Bayern sit 16 points ahead of second place Bayer Leverkusen and have out-priced their rivals €116 million to €56 million.
*Figures courtesy of Transfermarkt.
