The beginning of a secret plot to form the most controversial breakaway in football history? Or an innocent catch-up with old friends to discuss a pre-season tournament? A degree of intrigue surrounds a meeting this week of the Premier League's big five clubs at prestigious London hotel The Dorchester. According to The Sun, which broke the story, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea were there to resurrect an idea we have seen mooted in the past - a European super league.
They insist a breakaway from the Premier League is not on the agenda. However, the talks did focus on possible reform of the Champions League... Last week, the Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu told me he was in favour of tennis-style 'wild cards', guaranteeing automatic entry to the Champions League for big clubs that miss out on qualification via their domestic leagues.
This year, for example, the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea all seem likely to miss out on the riches of the Champions League, as clubs like Leicester City threaten an elite that, since 1992, has enjoyed almost routine entry to Europe's premier competition...
...They are (also) angry about the disruption a winter World Cup in 2022 will cause. They note that Fifa's reforms do not mean the clubs - or fans and players - will have any representatives on its new council. And they will be preparing to fight their corner when it comes to negotiating a greater share of Uefa revenue.