Michel Platini: who would be stupid enough to buy Manchester United or Chelsea?

Back in his Juventus playing pomp, Michel Platini found himself in conversation one day with the club's distinguished owner, Gianni Agnelli. "Avocato,'' asked Platini, respectfully using his employer's professional title, "can you tell me to whom football belongs?'' Good question.

Platini, now Uefa's president, smiled as he related the story. "It was a good question!'' laughed the man who gave up running football matches for running football.

(...)

"England is the only country where they get angry about diving. They are great football people. They don't disturb the life of the players. It's wonderful. But I am not so open to the business side.

(...)

"You have talent in England – it's up to you not to buy always the best 13-14 young players in Europe,'' said Platini, nodding at mention of Arsène Wenger's recruitment of Cesc Fàbregas from Barcelona's academy.

"I am not in favour of the Arsenal system. The more English youth players you have in your team, the better it is for your football and popularity of your game. Full story...

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