Madrid believe Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur remain liable for a share of the abandoned competition’s initial costs, which one source puts at up to €80m.
Real Madrid wants the six Premier League clubs that joined the European Super League (ESL) in April 2021 to contribute to the project’s start-up costs, reports The Athletic.
Madrid believes that Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur remain liable for a portion of those costs, even though all six withdrew within days of the launch, according to several sources quoted by the publication.
One source estimates the total at up to €80m (£67.3m).
Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus have so far shared the ESL’s promotional costs amongst themselves. A source in Madrid said that any money owed would have to be paid to the European Super League Company, the Spain-based holding company to which all twelve founding clubs have signed the shareholders’ agreement.
The six Premier League clubs have been asked for comment. A22 Sports Management, the company that promoted the ESL, declined to comment.
Real Madrid spark dispute over contractual provisions
Any claim is likely to centre on the shareholders’ agreement. Its provisions oblige the founding clubs to jointly own and manage the company, and the question is whether that obligation also extends to its financing.
None of the ESL documents leaked to date refer specifically to cost-sharing, The Athletic said. Slater said that Madrid would likely have to take legal action to reclaim the money. The six English clubs have previously refused to say whether they still consider themselves bound by the 2021 agreements.
The six clubs reached a settlement with the English and European football authorities in 2021. The Premier League stated in June 2021 that the six had jointly agreed to pay £22m as a gesture of goodwill, and that each club would face a £25m fine and a 30-point deduction should they attempt to break away again.
The six clubs, together with Atlético Madrid, Inter and AC Milan, agreed to forgo 5% of their revenue from UEFA competitions for one season and to jointly donate €15m to amateur and youth football in Europe.
Madrid’s withdrawal from the project
On 7 February 2026, Barcelona formally notified the European Super League Company and the other clubs of its withdrawal, leaving Madrid as the only club still involved. Juventus had already withdrawn in 2023.
On 11 February, UEFA, European Football Clubs (EFC) and Madrid announced an ‘agreement in principle’ which, they claimed, once implemented, would also resolve their legal disputes over the Super League. Madrid and A22 had demanded more than $4bn dollars in damages from UEFA.
These claims for damages followed a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union in December 2023.
The court ruled that FIFA and UEFA had abused their dominant position by excluding clubs from participating in the ESL, but did not rule on the project itself.
A22 later proposed a format comprising 64 clubs spread across three divisions, and subsequently a competition featuring 96 clubs across four tiers, which was renamed the Unify League in December 2024.
Real Madrid’s request coincides with the club’s appointment of Bernd Reichart, who has been managing director of A22 since 2022, as Head of Operations.
AS and Marca reported that Reichart will be responsible for stadium management, sponsorship and merchandising, and will report directly to José Ángel Sánchez, Real Madrid’s Managing Director.
Sources at Real Madrid told The Athletic that he will take up his post as soon as he has completed his duties at A22. Reichart was previously Managing Director of RTL Deutschland.
