Real Madrid Seek €80m Super League Costs from Six Clubs

Real Madrid Seek €80m Super League Costs from Six Clubs

Real Madrid reportedly want six Premier League clubs to contribute towards the initial costs of the abandoned European Super League, reopening a financial dispute over the controversial project announced in April 2021.

According to a report by The Athletic, Real Madrid believe Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur should still be responsible for a share of the costs, despite all six English clubs withdrawing from the proposed competition shortly after its announcement.

The total initial costs are estimated by one source at up to €80 million. However, this figure refers to the reported overall costs of setting up and promoting the project, not a confirmed amount that each club has been ordered to pay.

Why Real Madrid Want the Clubs to Contribute

The European Super League was announced in April 2021 by 12 founding clubs, including Real Madrid and the six Premier League sides. The proposal faced intense opposition from supporters, football authorities and other stakeholders. The English clubs withdrew within days, leaving the original plan in crisis.

Reporting indicates that Real Madrid believes the English clubs' involvement in the founding arrangements could leave them with financial responsibilities even after their withdrawals.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus reportedly shared promotional expenses connected with the competition. The latest dispute concerns whether the founding clubs' agreements require all signatories to contribute to the initial costs.

The matter is complicated by the contractual details. According to the reporting, the available leaked documents do not specifically set out a clear cost-sharing obligation. That could make any attempt to recover the money a legal and contractual challenge.

Which Premier League Clubs Are Involved?

The six English clubs named in the report are:

• Arsenal

• Chelsea

• Liverpool

• Manchester City

• Manchester United

• Tottenham Hotspur

The clubs pulled out of the proposed competition in 2021 following widespread criticism. Real Madrid's reported position is that their initial commitment may still carry financial consequences, despite their subsequent withdrawal.

Will the Six Clubs Have to Pay?

That remains uncertain. The report does not establish that a court has ordered the clubs to pay, nor does it confirm how much each club might owe. Any potential recovery would depend on the relevant agreements and whether the European Super League company has a valid basis for pursuing the costs.

The six Premier League clubs were approached for comment, while A22 Sports Management, the company that promoted the project, declined to comment, according to the reporting.

The dispute adds another chapter to the long-running European Super League saga. For now, the reported €80 million figure represents an estimate of the project's initial costs, while the question of whether the English clubs must contribute remains unresolved.

Source: The Athletic, reporting by James Horncastle and Guillermo Rai.