A new Tuttosport study has highlighted how the Champions League continues to reinforce Europe’s financial elite – with Inter firmly among the main beneficiaries.

In Italy, the same five clubs (Inter, Juventus, Milan, Napoli and Atalanta) have consistently occupied the top European places over the past five seasons, collecting 90% of all UEFA prize money distributed to Serie A teams.

The report notes, via FCInterNews, that this concentration of resources has created an entrenched hierarchy rather than the financial balance UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules were intended to promote.

This comes as Inter post record revenues and continue to improve their financial position.

Inter & Elite Clubs Across Europe Benefit From Champions League Structure & Revenues

MUNICH, GERMANY – MAY 31: Francesco Acerbi of FC Internazionale looks dejected as he walks past the UEFA Champions League trophy after defeat to Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Similar patterns appear across Europe.

In Germany, clubs like Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Leverkusen and RB Leipzig dominate earnings.

Meanwhile, in England, the combined weight of domestic broadcasting revenue and UEFA payouts has widened the gap even further.

The end result, Tuttosport concludes, is an oligarchy of around 25 clubs that qualify for Europe almost every year.

Therefore, these teams are able to reinvest and strengthen while smaller sides find entry to the elite increasingly rare.