Barcelona Withdraws from European Super League, Leaving Madrid Alone

FC Barcelona has officially announced its withdrawal from the controversial European Super League (ESL), leaving Real Madrid as the only remaining club committed to the project. This decision marks a significant shift for the Catalan club, which was one of the original twelve teams, including the Premier League’s so-called “big six,” that sought to create a new midweek competition to rival the UEFA Champions League.

The ESL faced immediate backlash from fans, players, and football governing bodies, leading most of the clubs to abandon the initiative shortly after its launch in April 2021. Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus were the last holdouts, but on October 7, 2023, Barcelona confirmed its exit with a succinct statement: “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.”

Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, indicated a desire to rejoin the European Football Clubs (EFC), from which the club, along with others, had been expelled. Reports from ESPN suggest that Laporta has also made efforts to mend relations with both UEFA and La Liga president Javier Tebas, signaling a growing disillusionment with the ESL. Tensions with Real Madrid have remained, particularly as Madrid’s president, Florentino Pérez, has been vocally critical of the Catalan club.

In recent remarks, Pérez called attention to Barcelona’s financial dealings, particularly payments amounting to €8.4 million (approximately $9.9 million) linked to former referee José María Enríquez Negreira between 2001 and 2018. He stated that it “isn’t normal” for Barcelona to have made such payments during a period of significant success. Furthermore, during Real Madrid’s annual assembly, Pérez asserted that his club possesses the “institutional strength and wealth” necessary to champion the ESL, despite the exodus of other participating teams.

The management company behind the ESL, A22 Sports Management, has continued to explore variations of the league concept, even rebranding it as the “Unify League.” Proposed formats have included a four-tier structure featuring 96 clubs, but these alterations have failed to generate renewed interest.

With the ESL now firmly in the past, FC Barcelona’s focus has shifted towards reasserting itself as a dominant force in Spanish football. The club enjoyed a successful season in 2024, winning a domestic treble under coach Hansi Flick and claiming the Spanish Super Cup in January 2025, a victory that ultimately led to the departure of Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso.

The recent completion of renovations at the Spotify Camp Nou provides Barcelona with an opportunity to enhance its financial stability. Despite ongoing debts that remain a significant concern, the potential for increased revenue from regular trophy wins could be crucial for the club’s recovery.

As Barcelona aims to reclaim its status as a leading club in European football, the timeline for achieving this goal remains uncertain. The club’s recent successes provide a foundation, but whether they can return to the heights of their past glory will depend on both on-field performance and financial management in the coming years.