Madrid press English clubs for ongoing Super League costs

(Reuters Photo) Spanish club Real Madrid confirmed on Tuesday that it is seeking contributions from six Premier League clubs to cover the costs of the failed European Super League, reviving a financial dispute that began after the breakaway competition collapsed in 2021. The Athletic reported the total setup costs could reach 80 million euros.

English clubs named as liable

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were listed as the clubs from which Madrid expects payment. All six withdrew from the project amid widespread public and political opposition. Tottenham declined to comment, while the other five Premier League clubs did not immediately respond to Reuters requests.

The expenses incurred in establishing the competition have so far been shouldered by Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus. Madrid said the English clubs are liable for their share of those costs. It remains unclear whether the club is also pursuing AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid, the other three founding clubs that abandoned the venture early.

Origins of the dispute

The Athletic reported that the shareholders’ agreement for the European Super League Company may not explicitly detail each club’s responsibility for the set‑up costs. The Super League was announced in April 2021 by twelve leading clubs across Europe seeking a competition outside UEFA’s structure. Within three days, nine of the founders withdrew following fierce criticism from supporters, governing bodies and political leaders.

The six Premier League teams were among those that abandoned the plan after the backlash. Juventus later withdrew, and Barcelona formally left in February, leaving Real Madrid as the sole remaining founding club. On 11 February, Real Madrid, UEFA and the European Football Clubs body announced an agreement of principles aimed at resolving the legal disputes linked to the Super League.

This renewed claim highlights how the financial legacy of the failed Super League continues to surface, pitting Madrid’s pursuit of reimbursement against the English clubs’ reluctance to revisit a project that collapsed amid widespread opposition.