No one is bigger than Juventus

Andrea Agnelli speaks to the shareholders on the current financial situation, the team, Super League, and much more.

Being respectful towards the Shareholders is a hallmark of this company. Today, we will approve the financial statements as of 30 June 2021 and we will elect the new Board of Directors. It is right to tell you what Juventus have done and what Juventus will do.

First of all it is important to have a picture of the global economic situation of football. The forecasts spoke of enormous growth, detached from the global situation. At the same time, we have witnessed great inflation of the players' market.

All this leads to a reflection: they were investments with expectations of subsequent returns. In this context, it is correct to analyze what Juventus have done in recent years.

In the 2014-2018 cycle, our turnover was constantly above 400 million. For this reason, it was time to invest, to think big. Then Covid struck, which hit everyone, and the world came to a standstill.

In my youth, the word "quarantine" did not exist. The world has changed in our habits, we have vaccinated ourselves, because I believe it is the right thing to do, for us and for the most fragile of people.

The world of football faced a situation never seen before, with constant swap tests, "bubbles", and it was an unreal period, which then led to a series of crises, especially economically.

One of the main changes in the world of football was the total downsizing of the transfer market for players.

If we return to normal, we will be able to have a real balance of the effects of Covid at the end of the current season.

The expansion plan proposed in 2019 was credible then and it is today - it has what it takes to restart, thanks to the capital increase that we are submitting to your attention today.

The main theme is and will be credibility, which must be expressed from various points of view. First of all financial, then certainly management, ESG and sustainability, and political.

I find it incredible that any attempt to reform the football industry is always set aside because the interlocutors and the players are heterogeneous. Current governance does not allow anyone to take leadership.

I worked loyally to change a system that does not protect investors and does not respect sporting meritocracy. Just think that many champion teams of their nations do not participate in the Champions League.