Barcelona, Spain - In a landmark decision that effectively signals the end of a controversial chapter in European football, FC Barcelona has formally withdrawn from the European Super League (ESL) project. The announcement, made on Saturday, leaves Real Madrid as the last remaining club publicly committed to the breakaway competition that once threatened to reshape the landscape of European club football.
"FC Barcelona hereby announces that today it has formally notified the European Super League Company and the clubs involved of its withdrawal from the European Super League project," the club stated.
The Super League, initially proposed in 2021, was a plan for a new elite tournament involving 12 of Europe's leading clubs: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan. The proposal envisioned a 20-team league with 15 permanent members immune to relegation, effectively replacing the UEFA Champions League.
However, the announcement was met with widespread condemnation from fans, football associations, and even governments. Critics argued that the Super League would create a closed shop for the wealthiest clubs, undermining the principles of sporting meritocracy and harming domestic leagues.
Faced with immense pressure, most of the founding clubs swiftly withdrew from the project. Juventus, another initial proponent, had already exited in 2023. Barcelona's departure marks a significant blow to the Super League's already dwindling hopes of revival.
Barcelona President Joan Laporta had hinted at the club's change of heart as early as October 2025, expressing a desire to rebuild bridges with UEFA, European football's governing body. "We are in favour of peace because there is a way forward for the clubs in the Super League to return to UEFA," Laporta said at the time.
Despite the near-universal condemnation, Real Madrid, under the leadership of President Florentino Perez, has remained a staunch advocate for the Super League. The Madrid-based promoter of the Super League, A22 Sports Management, had even unveiled revised proposals for the competition. These revised plans did little to sway public opinion or garner support from other major clubs.
Adding another layer of complexity, Real Madrid and A22 Sports Management are reportedly seeking over $4 billion in damages from UEFA, alleging that the organization's opposition to the Super League stifled free competition. A Spanish court had initially ruled in 2024 that FIFA and UEFA's actions were anti-competitive, a decision that UEFA unsuccessfully appealed in 2025.
Barcelona's withdrawal signifies a return to the established order of European football, aligning itself with UEFA's existing framework of competitions. While the legal battles surrounding the Super League may continue, the project, in its original form, appears to be definitively over. The dream of a breakaway league dominated by a select few has faded, at least for now, and European football can look forward to a future, still under UEFA's umbrella.