Are we seeing a generational shift in the power bases of European Football?

With Paris San Germain (PSG) signing Lionel Messi, it now means they are favourites for the Champions League. Four of the next five favourites are the English clubs with Bayern Munich the only other side with serious odds for club football's Premier competition.

Barcelona and Real Madrid have been seen as the benchmark teams over the past twenty years but now the latter has faded (old players + no big signings. The former has the same problem too but with added financial chaos.

Italian club football has been in relative decline for a long time but Juventus were considered an A list superpower until the last couple of years but their midfield is nowhere near world class. Inter Milan just won Serie A but are busy selling all of their best players.

Covid has affected club finances massively but the English Clubs (with their huge TV deal) and PSG (with Qatari oil money) are weathering things better than others and can now hoover up the best players in a buyers market.

Its sad because it means that the Champions League could become an even more imbalanced competition. It needs Italy and Spain to be strong.