Had an interesting conversation with someone I take a good deal of notice of.
The American owned clubs/Barca and Madrid don't have much say in this matter. They always say follow the money...
The power play is not by the clubs, but by the American banks that hold huge amounts of their debt.
Covid has accelerated the concerns of when United, Liverpool and Arsenal can start paying this down more quickly.
JP Morgan and others are essentially paying themselves, fronting the cash for the formation and knowing it is coming straight back to them to pay down those huge debt piles.
They have also made sure these revenue streams last long after the clubs have paid back their debts.
City and Chelsea were seemingly between a rock and hard place of what best served their own interests.