This comment regarding Britain's possible exit from the European Union was made by Joe Kaeser, a prominent figure in international business circles. He was alluding to a convoluted political and economic scenario that has dominated global discourse for many years.

As the former CEO of Siemens AG, a multinational conglomerate based in Germany, Kaeser frequently discusses topics related to international trade and labor relations. His background in overseeing sizable businesses across continents and cultures has influenced his viewpoint.

Given its economic resiliency and historical connections to other major economies, such as the US, the statement implies that although Britain's exit from the EU might not necessarily be harmful to the UK, it could severely reduce the European Union's negotiating leverage on the international scene. It's similar to a team losing one of its best players; even though the other players might still be good on their own, they might find it difficult to compete with teams that are completely intact.

According to this comparison, the EU would be comparable to a sports league attempting to negotiate terms or agreements with bigger, more influential leagues or organizations. The EU's stance against superpowers like China and the US is weaker without Britain, which has close diplomatic ties and significant economic clout, particularly in sectors like technology and finance.

Kaeser is essentially drawing attention to a nuanced perspective on how international relations operate, which holds that although individual nations can prosper independently of larger blocs or unions, those blocs may lose a great deal of clout in the absence of powerful members. This viewpoint emphasizes how interdependent and interconnected the modern global economy and politics are.