Sunday, February 8, 2026 - Spanish giants, Barcelona have announced it has withdrawn from the Super League project, leaving Real Madrid as the only club still involved.
A total of 12 clubs had initially joined the controversial
breakaway competition back in 2021.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester
United, and Tottenham, the six Premier League clubs involved, quickly withdrew
following a backlash from fans.
Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, and Inter Milan would follow
suit, leaving Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Juventus withdrew in 2024,
with the Italian giants opting to rejoin the European Football Clubs (EFC).
A statement from the club said: “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.”
The European Super League was unveiled in April 2021 as a
breakaway competition designed to rival Uefa’s Champions League, built around a
closed 20 team model.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta had claimed back in 2023
that he remained convinced a Super League would still be launched.
Last year, however, Laporta stressed that Barcelona were
seeking to have closer ties with European football's governing body UEFA.
'We are committed to building bridges between the Super
League and UEFA,' Laporta said in October.
'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.
'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.'
Barcelona's withdrawal from the Super League comes four days
after Laporta confirmed his board's resignation ahead of standing for
re-election in the club's elections next month.
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