Real Madrid are seeking to hold the English clubs that co-founded the European Super League accountable for a share of the project’s setup costs, despite their withdrawal and the tournament’s failure to launch.
According to a report by The Athletic, the Spanish club believes that stepping back from participation does not exempt those clubs from bearing the initial expenses associated with preparing the project, which was spearheaded by Florentino Pérez to reshape European competitions.
The claim involves Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur—the six English clubs that joined the founding line-up before making a swift exit under intense pressure from fans and football governing bodies.
According to the report, total setup costs for the project could reach approximately €80 million (around £67.3 million). Real Madrid’s position centers on these clubs contributing to the bill, though no specific figure required from each party has been officially disclosed.
The dispute hinges on the shareholders’ agreement signed by the clubs upon incorporating the Spanish company behind the initiative. However, full contract details have never been published, including the extent to which financial obligations persist following withdrawal.
The Super League was announced in April 2021 with 12 founding clubs, before the six English sides, Atlético Madrid, AC Milan, and Inter Milan withdrew within the opening days, leaving Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus as the sole public defenders of the project.
Regarding the founders’ exit, Pérez stated at the time: “I am not going to waste time explaining what a binding contract is here, but the reality is that the clubs cannot leave”—a stance that explains the club’s continued insistence that obligations endure beyond a public withdrawal announcement.
These financial demands follow the announcement of a principles agreement between Real Madrid, UEFA, and the European Club Association (ECA) in February 2026, aimed at settling legal disputes tied to the Super League once implemented. Meanwhile, the matter of setup costs brings the rift back to the relationships between the founding clubs themselves.
