Arrigo Sacchi has said that Barcelona's era as the dominant force in European football is over, proclaiming: "A king has died".
Luis Enrique's side were beaten 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League despite the presence of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar and Andres Iniesta in their starting line-up, and Sacchi said the current Barcelona team lacks the qualities that helped them win Europe's top competition four times between 2005 and 2015.
Barcelona are second in La Liga, a point behind Real Madrid having played two games more, and Sacchi – who was director of football at Santiago Bernabeu for a season in 2004-05 – predicted a shift in the balance of power in Spanish and European football.
"A king has died: Barcelona," Sacchi told Gazetta Dello Sport. "There is another sovereign who will impose his rule: Real Madrid.
"But there is room for others to occupy the throne. I see Juventus very well. Real Madrid is the most serious candidate for the title.
"For a long time, Barcelona has stopped being what it used to be. You no longer see the aggressive, orderly and ambitious team that we admired for 10 years, imposing a great game.
"They have given football lessons to the world. That's over."
He said: "Even Messi is no longer able to overcome the opponent because it is the machine that does not work."
