The eight teams that can take the NextGen Series to the next level

Currently the NextGen Series is starting to grow a great reputation as the Premier Youth competition on the continent. This season saw the competition expand from 16 teams to 24 which despite its obvious benefits has also had a slight negative in terms of complicating the Group Stage system and seeing only eight teams eliminated at the first stage.

The future scope for the competition must be to expand to 32 teams by inviting eight more teams to join the competition from across the continent.

The teams would have to be big clubs or indeed ones which have a rich history in the development of their youth players. You also feel that there is scope for at least one more Spanish and Italian teams as well as a representative from Ukraine; considering they are currently in UEFA’s top ten coefficients.

Big names such as Manchester United, AC Milan, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich do not currently have teams representing their clubs in the NextGen Series and that would certainly be something the competition will like to address before next seasons edition.

Here is an example of the eight teams that could receive the invite?

AC Milan

Would join Juventus and Inter Milan as the Italian sides represented in the NextGen Series.

Bayern Munich

Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund currently compete but both failed to qualify for the next stage. Would Bayern’s youngsters be able to fair better?

Benfica/Porto

Sporting Lisbon have exceeded expectations in this seasons competition so could another Portuguese side join the fray.

Feyenoord

The Rotterdam club have a great recent record when it comes to bringing through their own talent in recent years and the opportunity to join fellow Dutch clubs PSV Eindhoven and Ajax in the competition.

Lyon

Only PSG and Marseille represent France right now and considering that Lyon are France’s most successful club side their absence needs to be rectified.

Manchester United

Arguably the biggest absentee from the competition considering the size of the team and their successful youth system.

Real Madrid

Arguably the biggest absentee from the competition considering the size of the team and their successful youth system. Wait a minute!!

Shakhtar Donetsk/Dynamo Kiev

Ukraine are a growing force in European football and that needs to represented on a youth level. Shakhtar have dominated the league in recent years but Dynamo perhaps rear more talent.

Do you feel the NextGen Series needs 32 teams?

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