Barcelona have formally withdrawn from the European Super League project, leaving Real Madrid as the only remaining supporter of the controversial breakaway competition. The club announced in a statement that it had notified the European Super League Company and the involved clubs of its decision to exit the venture.
The European Super League was first unveiled in April 2021 with 12 founding clubs, including the Premier League's 'Big Six' and three each from Spain and Italy. However, widespread fan backlash led to the swift withdrawal of the English clubs within 72 hours, followed by Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and later Juventus in June 2024.
Barcelona's departure is a significant blow to the Super League organisers, who have been pursuing legal avenues to revive the project. The Madrid-based company A22 has continued to advocate for the league, which has undergone several format changes, including proposals for a 64-club and later a 96-team competition rebranded as the Unify League.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta, a vocal proponent of the Super League, now appears to have performed a U-turn. His earlier comments in 2024 revealed a vague vision of a 16-team competition involving clubs from Italy, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Belgium, but the promised groundswell of support never materialised.
The withdrawal leaves Real Madrid and their president Florentino Perez reportedly furious, as the project faces an uncertain future. Despite A22's demands for UEFA approval within eight weeks in November, the lack of support from major clubs like Barcelona has effectively crippled the initiative.
