Barcelona have officially withdrawn from the controversial European Super League project, leaving Real Madrid as the only remaining club still associated with the breakaway competition.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Catalan club confirmed it had formally notified the European Super League Company and the remaining clubs of its decision to exit the project.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta had previously indicated the club’s desire to rebuild its relationship with UEFA, distancing itself from the Super League initiative launched by 12 clubs in 2021.

The project collapsed rapidly following widespread fan backlash and institutional resistance, with all six English clubs, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea pulling out within days.

They were followed by Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus by 2024, leaving only Barcelona and Real Madrid aligned with the competition championed by Real president Florentino Perez.

Laporta reiterated last year that Barcelona favoured reconciliation, stressing that the club felt “very close to UEFA” and the European Football Clubs Association.

In 2024, a Spanish court ruled that opposition from FIFA and UEFA had restricted free competition, and an appeal lodged by UEFA was dismissed in 2025.

Following the ruling, Real Madrid and Super League promoters A22 Sports Management reportedly began seeking more than $4 billion in damages from UEFA, according to AFP sources.

AFP