> Pretty much every player who's playing in the top leagues now grew up in an academy, where their education and social lives revolved around their football practice routine

The argument would only apply to star soccer players. Sure, lots of parents are talked into signing their kids up for pricey training when they're as young as 6. But if you check out big names like Messi, Iniesta, and Cristiano Ronaldo, they didn't hit the academy scene until they were almost teens, right before getting picked for major under-15 club teams. It looks more like you've got to go to an academy to get noticed, not that spending more time in one boosts your chances of making it big.