Barcelona Makes Formal Exit from European Super League Project
In a significant development for European football, Spanish powerhouse FC Barcelona has officially announced its withdrawal from the European Super League project. This decision leaves their historic rivals, Real Madrid, as the sole remaining club still formally involved in the controversial breakaway competition that was first unveiled in April 2021.
The Gradual Collapse of the Super League Initiative
The European Super League was initially launched with twelve founding clubs, proposing a closed twenty-team model designed to rival UEFA's prestigious Champions League. However, the project faced immediate and intense backlash from fans, governing bodies, and the broader football community.
- The six English Premier League clubs involved—Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur—were the first to withdraw following widespread supporter protests.
- Spanish club Atletico Madrid and Italian giants AC Milan and Inter Milan subsequently followed suit, abandoning the project.
- This left only Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus as the remaining proponents. Juventus formally withdrew in 2024, opting to rejoin the European Football Clubs (EFC) association.
Barcelona's Official Statement and Strategic Shift
A formal statement from FC Barcelona confirmed the club's position: "FC Barcelona informs that today it has formally communicated to European Super League Company and the Clubs that have been part of its withdrawal from the ESL project."
This announcement marks a notable shift in Barcelona's public stance. Club president Joan Laporta had previously expressed confidence as recently as 2023 that a Super League would still be launched. However, by last year, his rhetoric had changed significantly, emphasizing a desire for closer ties with European football's governing body, UEFA.
In October, Laporta stated: "We are committed to building bridges between the Super League and UEFA. Barça's position is clear. Those affected and those concerned are already aware of that. We are in favour of pacification because there is a way forward for the clubs in the Super League to return to UEFA."
He further elaborated on Barcelona's realigned priorities: "We feel very close to UEFA and the EFC. It is important that we are there and that we implement everything that can be improved, both in UEFA and in the EFC."
Timing and Broader Context
Barcelona's withdrawal comes at a politically sensitive time for the club. The announcement was made just four days after President Laporta confirmed his board's resignation ahead of standing for re-election in the club's upcoming elections next month. This timing suggests the decision may be part of a broader strategic repositioning as Barcelona navigates both internal governance and its role within European football's power structures.
The European Super League project, once envisioned as a seismic shift in club football, now appears increasingly isolated with only Real Madrid remaining publicly committed. Barcelona's exit represents another major blow to the initiative's viability and underscores the enduring influence of fan sentiment and traditional football governance structures in shaping the sport's future.
