Real Madrid is reportedly pursuing six Premier League clubs for financial contributions toward the aborted 2021 European Super League venture, seeking to recoup startup costs tied to the failed breakaway tournament.
The ill-fated project was launched on April 18, 2021, when a dozen elite European clubs announced a closed-shop rival to UEFA’s Champions League designed to cushion pandemic-related financial strains. However, the scheme collapsed almost immediately amid intense fan backlash and political pressure. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur all publicly withdrew within three days of the announcement.
Those swift exits triggered a cascade of departures across Europe. Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Manchester United officially exited on April 20, 2021, followed by Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, AC Milan, and Inter Milan on April 21. Juventus maintained its association until June 6, 2023, while Barcelona held out until February 2026. Real Madrid reached an agreement with UEFA shortly thereafter, ostensibly bringing an end to the protracted saga.
Despite the project’s demise, Real Madrid now expects the six English clubs to cover their share of the initial launch expenses. Total startup liabilities could reach up to €80 million, equivalent to roughly $89.9 million, which would place an approximate $7.5 million burden on each of the 12 original founding members. Until recently, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus had been bearing the financial weight alone.
Whether the English sides can be legally compelled to pay depends on binding agreements signed during the project’s formation. When the breakaway league was formulated, the 12 founding clubs signed a 120-page contract, according to former Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli, establishing them as legally binding shareholders. Reports indicate that 11 of the original dozen remain tied to the project contractually, with Inter Milan noted as the sole club to successfully navigate an exit.
During the initial collapse, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez insisted that participating clubs were locked into the venture. “I’m not going to take my time to explain what a binding contract is here,” Pérez said at the time. “But the fact is, the clubs can’t leave.”
Legal experts suggest that the outcome will hinge on the precise phrasing within the 120-page document. While the binding nature of the shareholder agreement forms the basis of Madrid’s expectations, legal analysts note that complex contractual language leaves room for interpretation by legal counsel on both sides.
