Madrid's Real are convinced that the six leading clubs in the English Premier League — Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham — should reimburse part of the multi-million expenses incurred during the Organisation of the European Super League, reports renowned outlet The Athletic.
Of the 12 founding clubs of the controversial tournament, nine swiftly exited the project just days after its grand announcement in April 2021. Besides the six English teams, Spanish side Atletico and Italian clubs AC Milan and Inter also cut ties immediately. In 2023, Juventus withdrew, while Barcelona and Real officially joined Juventus in exiting by February 2026.
Early estimates suggest that the total financial outlay for the extensive planning, legal support, and global promotion of the failed tournament reached around €80 million. Currently, it is Real, Barcelona, and Juventus who are shouldering all these financial obligations alone.
Real's hierarchy firmly insists that the representatives of the Premier League still bear full legal responsibility for the initial expenses. The Spaniards back their hard stance by referring to a signed agreement among the founding clubs concerning joint ownership and management of the project, the terms of which are not voided by a simple withdrawal from participation.
However, the English giants vehemently deny such financial claims. Clubs in London and Manchester are adamant that all their legal and financial obligations were definitively terminated the moment they officially withdrew from the tournament and issued public apologies to their fans.
