Sunday, June 19, 2011

Europe should stop buying soccer talents in bulk: Platini

UEFA president Michel Platini (File photo)
European clubs should produce their own talent and not buy in bulk from other countries, UEFA president Michel Platini said.

The Frenchman said he was not happy about Qatari investors buying a 70 percent stake in Paris St. Germaine, nor by last month's Europa League final in which Porto and Braga fielded 14 South Americans between them in their starting line-ups.


"I'm in favor of (local) identity," the Frenchman told reporters. "If Porto are in Portugal, they should play with Portuguese players instead of buying left, right and centre from other countries."