FC Barcelona announced its official withdrawal from the European Super League project on Saturday. The club formally notified the European Super League Company and other involved clubs. This move leaves Real Madrid standing as the only major original supporter of the controversial breakaway competition. It’s a big shift for European football.
The decision clearly distances Barcelona from Super League promoter Florentino Pérez. It also aligns the Catalan giants more closely with UEFA and the European Football Clubs (EFC). This whole Super League idea just can’t seem to get off the ground, can it?
Super League’s Tumultuous History
Remember April 2021? That’s when the Super League first launched with 12 founding clubs. But it collapsed fast. Six English clubs pulled out almost immediately because of massive fan backlash. It was a mess, honestly. Then Atlético Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and eventually Juventus, all withdrew. That left just Real Madrid and Barcelona trying to keep it alive.
The project tried to relaunch in 2024 as the Unify League. This came after the European Court of Justice ruled in December 2023. The court found UEFA and FIFA rules on new competitions were abusive under EU law. So, A22 Sports, the league’s promoter, submitted a proposal for recognition. But it seems Barcelona isn’t buying it anymore.
Barcelona currently leads LaLiga, by the way, which shows their focus might be elsewhere. No specific details about financial penalties for their exit have come out yet, Goal.com reported. But you gotta wonder if there will be some.
Barcelona’s Shifting Loyalties
Over recent months, Barcelona’s relationship with Real Madrid has gotten pretty sour. Club president Joan Laporta has been working to re-establish ties with UEFA and the EFC. This withdrawal confirms where their priorities lie now. They’re back with the established system, it seems.
The club made its position clear. “Barcelona hereby announces that [on Saturday] it has formally notified the European Super League Company and the clubs involved of its withdrawal from the European Super League project,” read a statement from the club, as seen on OneFootball. This isn’t a surprise to anyone following the developments.
Insiders suggest that founding members like Barcelona might face contractual hurdles for exiting. But the club’s formal declaration means they’re no longer participating. That’s a strong message.
What This Means for the Future
The European Super League was always proposed as a closed competition. Founding members would be in, regardless of merit. That’s what drew so much criticism. It wanted to challenge the UEFA Champions League. But it hasn’t worked out.
Barcelona’s exit makes the Super League’s viability even harder. Real Madrid is now the main committed top club. And with all the legal and relational strains, it looks like a long shot. The project needs broad club support. They just don’t have it. Another OneFootball piece notes this further isolates Real Madrid.
This whole situation lines up with broader European club efforts to reconcile with UEFA. It feels like clubs are realizing the traditional structures, for all their faults, offer more stability. And for a club like Barcelona, currently doing well in LaLiga, stability might be what they need most.
Ishaan Singh 
Baishali Karmakar 
Govind Singh