And Then There Was One! Barca Announce Departure From European Super League

Last Updated:February 07, 2026, 20:44 IST

Barcelona formally informed the European Super League Company and the associated clubs about their withdrawal, leaving Real Madrid as the sole remaining participant.

Barcelona, the prominent Spanish football club, officially announced their departure from the defunct European Super League on Saturday, leaving Real Madrid as the sole remaining participant.

Barcelona stated that they had formally informed the European Super League Company and the associated clubs about their withdrawal from the project.

“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 said in a statement.

Club president Joan Laporta indicated in October 2025 that Barcelona aimed to reconnect with UEFA, distancing themselves from the initiative that 12 clubs had launched in 2021 but quickly abandoned due to overwhelming fan and institutional opposition.

Shortly after the semi-closed Super League was unveiled five years ago, the six English clubs involved—Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham, and Chelsea—pulled out.

By 2024, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Juventus had also withdrawn, leaving only Barcelona and Real Madrid supporting the project spearheaded by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

In October, Laporta expressed a desire for reconciliation, stating that there was a path for Super League clubs to reintegrate with UEFA. He affirmed Barcelona’s strong affiliation with UEFA and the European Football Clubs (EFC), an independent body representing European football clubs.

“We are in favour of peace because there is a way forward for the clubs in the Super League to return to UEFA," said Barca chief Laporta.

“We feel very close to UEFA and the EFC European Football Clubs, a sole, independent body representing football clubs within Europe."

In 2024, a Spanish court ruled that FIFA and UEFA’s opposition to the Super League hindered free competition, and an appeal from UEFA was dismissed in 2025.

Consequently, Real Madrid and the Super League, backed by the A22 Sports Management group, sought over $4 billion in damages from UEFA, according to a source.

(With Inputs From Agencies)

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