Real Madrid seeks Super League costs from English founders

Real Madrid want the six Premier League clubs that joined the European Super League to pay a share of its setup costs, arguing that their withdrawal did not necessarily end their financial obligations to the project.According to The Athletic, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are the English clubs involved, with the total costs reportedly reaching as much as €80m.Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez said after the clubs withdrew in April 2021: “I’m not going to take my time to explain what a binding contract is here. But the fact is, the clubs can’t leave.”That statement reflected Madrid’s longstanding position on the founding agreements, although it does not establish that the English clubs must pay the contributions now being sought.Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus have so far shared promotional costs associated with the project, which collapsed in its original form following opposition from supporters, governing bodies and other clubs.The payment question centres on the shareholders’ agreement signed by the founders of the European Super League Company, a Spanish holding company established for the venture.Its wording committed the clubs to jointly owning and managing the project, with any dispute likely to turn on whether those provisions created continuing financial obligations after their public withdrawal.The reported €80m represents a possible total cost rather than a confirmed sum owed by the English clubs, and no individual contribution has been established.Any payments due would be owed to the European Super League Company rather than directly to Real Madrid, according to a source close to the Spanish club.The distinction places the issue within the contractual relationships underpinning the venture, rather than a straightforward reimbursement demand between clubs.Nine founders withdrew within days of the April 2021 launch: the six English teams, Atlético Madrid, AC Milan and Inter.Juventus announced their withdrawal in 2023, while Barcelona formally left in February 2026, leaving Madrid as the project’s most persistent supporter.The original competition subsequently underwent several redesigns through A22, the management company working on its development.A revised proposal in December 2023 envisaged 64 clubs across three divisions, before a further version in December 2024 expanded to 96 clubs under the Unify League name.Those plans sought to challenge UEFA’s European club competitions, but no tournament was launched and Madrid have since reached a truce with the governing body.The outstanding costs therefore concern a project that incurred development and promotional expenditure without establishing the competition intended to support its business model.The demand also comes as Madrid prepare to recruit A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart to lead their business operations, with his arrival expected after he concludes his affairs at A22.A22 declined to comment, while the six Premier League clubs had been approached for a response.No court ruling establishing liability or agreed settlement has been identified, leaving Madrid’s position dependent on the interpretation and potential enforcement of the founding contracts.