Rabat – Barcelona announced on Saturday that it has formally pulled out of the European Super League project, leaving Real Madrid as the only founding club still supporting the competition.
In a statement, the Catalan club confirmed it had notified the organizing company and the other teams involved of its decision to withdraw. The move marks a significant shift after years of resistance, as Barcelona had previously stood alongside Real Madrid in defending the project.
The Super League was first launched in April 2021 by 12 major European clubs, aiming to create a closed competition to rival the UEFA Champions League.
The plan collapsed within days following intense backlash from fans, governments, and football institutions. Most clubs quickly abandoned the idea, but Barcelona and Real Madrid remained committed, arguing that European football needed reform.
Recent developments pushed Barcelona to change course. In October 2025, club president Joan Laporta signaled a desire to rebuild ties with UEFA and distance the club from the Super League.
His comments came after a Madrid appeals court ruled that UEFA had “abused its authority” in trying to block the project in 2021. That ruling gave Super League organizers confidence to continue, but Barcelona has now chosen to step away.
With this decision, Real Madrid stands alone in pursuing the competition. The club, together with the organizing company A22 Sports, has filed a lawsuit seeking more than $4 billion in damages from UEFA.
A22 insists it has the legal right to launch a new tournament, while UEFA maintains that the court ruling only applied to outdated regulations from 2021, which have since been revised.
Barcelona’s withdrawal shows the growing isolation of Real Madrid in its battle with UEFA. For Laporta, the priority now appears to be restoring relations with European football’s governing body and focusing on stability at home.
The announcement effectively leaves the Super League project without the backing of two Spanish giants, weakening its credibility and prospects.