Barcelona Withdraws from European Super League to Rebuild Relationships

omidbasir- Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, stated that the club has chosen to withdraw from the European Super League with the aim of “rejoining the football family” and due to an “uncomfortable” relationship with Real Madrid.

The Catalan club made its official announcement regarding the withdrawal on Saturday, positioning Real Madrid as the only remaining club from the original 12 that initiated the project in 2021.

This pivotal decision came after Barcelona successfully reestablished its relationship with UEFA, the organizers of the Champions League, as well as the European Football Clubs (formerly known as the European Club Association) in recent months.

“With UEFA, we have returned to the football family, definitively leaving the Super League,” Laporta communicated through Barça’s official media channels.

He elaborated, “We have departed because this project was not viable; it had unraveled completely. It incurred only expenses without any benefits. The relationship with Real Madrid has not been good, creating a consistently uncomfortable situation.

“Barcelona has acted appropriately and with full transparency. We are seeking sustainability in European football and wish to contribute to harmony within the sport.”

Originally, the Super League was launched in 2021 with the backing of 12 of Europe’s premier clubs. However, a significant backlash from fans in England led to the rapid withdrawal of the six Premier League teams: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.

Following suit were Atlético Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and eventually Juventus, which left LaLiga rivals Madrid and Barça as the last proponents of the initiative.

Despite their continued efforts to promote the concept over the years, including a rebranding and relaunch as the Unify League in 2024, the project failed to attract meaningful support.