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Just came across this. The idea is basically an U19 Champions League. It's being trialled this season, and may well expand to more big clubs if it's successful. Possibly just a moneyspinner, but could be interesting
A new initiative for elite clubs’ youth squads looks set for its inaugural year this coming season as the NextGen Series will give young players the chance to play a European competition.
The tournament is based around Uefa’s Champions League, but will be on a slightly smaller scale and only have 16 participants, with those teams split into four groups.
The line-up for the tournament’s first year has been determined by recommendation in terms of the quality of the academies and invitation; however it hasn’t been established as to how qualification will be achieved in the future.
Mark Warburton, former academy manager for Watford, is the man responsible for NextGen and he told the Daily Mail: “Apart from the exceptional few who jump straight to the first team, many promising young players graduating from academies were not provided with enough consistent high-quality football challenges.”
It is believed that the tournament’s group stages will start in August with the knock-out phase commencing in January of 2012.
It is hoped that the final of the tournament will be held in Abu Dhabi, whilst TV rights are currently being negotiated.
So far 15 of the 16 participants have been announced with four coming from England – Manchester City, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Tottenham – with Celtic joining them.
Although all the groups are not yet known, Daily Mail understand that Aston Villa’s group will include Rosenborg or Norway and Fenerbahce of Turkey, whilst City will face Barcelona, Celtic and Marseille.
The other clubs expected to participate are: Inter (Italy), Molde (Norway), FC Basle (Switzerland), Sporting (Portugal), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) and Wolfsburg (Germany), plus one more club that has yet to be declared.
