The English Premier League is riding high as the top football league in the world. Last season saw two Premier League teams playing in the Champions League Final for the first time and the League continues to attract new investors from overseas, while enjoying a massive television contract.
This summer English teams seem more interested in raiding each other instead of looking overseas for players. Manchester United, Liverpool, Sunderland and Portsmouth have all signed or placed offers for players currently playing in England.
The rest of Europe is not sitting back and conceding European glory to English teams again next season. Serie A saw all four of its teams knocked out of the Champions League by English teams last season and Serie A clubs have been especially active in the transfer market.
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AC Milan, who must be favorites to win the UEFA Cup next season, grabbed many of the headlines by signing Ronaldinho from Barcelona and Mathieu Flamini from Arsenal even without the promise of Champions League football next year.
Summer transfer rumors have had Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Adebayor all linked with moves to Serie A this summer.
A lot of the transfer noise this summer has came from Spain where Barcelona and Real Madrid have been very active in talking about players playing in England. Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Adebayor have been summer long targets for Barcelona while the Ronaldo to Real Madrid saga has generated daily headlines for the last two months.
It is interesting to see the EPL teams being the hunted instead of the one's hunting here. A lot of the top European players seem to turning their back on the EPL this summer and staying where they are. It is too early to tell whether this is a short term change in attitude or something else, but it will make this year’s Champions League one of the most competitive in years.
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about 1 month ago
I really enjoyed this read...
I think Serie A will be in two years ready to challenge, we are still on our way back, come next season and the next we will have a once again mighty Juventus and AC Milan, now AC Milan come rain or shine they have the mentality always for a fight they just need a year of tweaking and they will be back to the top.
With Mourinho arriving we will see a more intelligent Inter which could be scary if all goes well and then there is Roma. Roma just fell short of playing the best football in Europe last season (they must pray for Mutu to come) will be developing further. they must buy this season and next to push forward the strength they have... Mexes, De Rossi and Totti they have a strong centre but must push on now and become real contenders.
Napoli in two years will also be much stronger and are building a team that one day soon will be regular Champions League material and Europe beware the Champions League is the aim and I would not bet against them over the next 5 years.
Fiorentina must be mentioned also...
So Serie A is not quite there yet, when they get there act together not many leagues can boast such high calibre teams, but look to Juve and Milan as serious contenders next season with Inter and Roma behind them and then Napoli as a future note.
I am confident in the next two seasons Serie A will regain its place at the top of Europe, money can't buy it all but I am sure the EPL will give it a real go, but Serie A is coming good.
Alby...
about 1 month ago
talk about putting your money where your mouth is.....eeh, i know lots of people who've been saying the EPL is not the best league in the world now finally they've got enough proof....whenever any leagues' two teams play for the Champions League final that league takes over the no.1 ranking period.
from about 1 month ago
James I think the EPL is the biggest league also from a revenue percentage. With EPL teams making the Champions League finals for the last four years (with 2 wins) it is hard to not think it is the best league in the world
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