February 11, (THEWILL) — Real Madrid have formally withdrawn from the European Super League project, nearly four years after the controversial breakaway competition collapsed amid widespread condemnation from supporters and football authorities.
The Spanish giants confirmed the decision following extended negotiations with UEFA, bringing an end to one of the most divisive chapters in modern European football history.
The club issued a statement on Wednesday announcing they had reached an agreement with UEFA and European Football Clubs “for the good of European club football”.
Madrid president Florentino Pérez, who served as the proposed Super League’s chairman when it was announced in April 2021, has now abandoned the scheme that once threatened to fundamentally alter the structure of continental competition.
The agreement centres on principles including sporting merit, long-term financial sustainability for clubs, and improved use of technology to enhance matchday experiences for fans.
Barcelona confirmed their departure from the project last week, leaving only Juventus and AC Milan among the original 12 founding clubs yet to publicly withdraw. Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Atlético Madrid and Inter had already pulled out within days of the initial announcement in 2021, following fierce backlash from supporters who protested outside stadiums and organised demonstrations across Europe.
The rapid collapse of the Super League was a rare victory for fan activism over commercial interests in top-level football.
The withdrawal resolves pending legal disputes between Madrid and UEFA related to the Super League concept. Court cases in Spain and at European level had continued even after the project’s effective demise, with Madrid and Barcelona previously arguing that UEFA held an unlawful monopoly over international club competitions.
The agreement announced on Wednesday will settle these proceedings once the outlined principles are formally executed and implemented by all parties involved.
Madrid’s decision marks a significant shift in strategy for Pérez, who had maintained public support for the Super League concept despite its failure to launch.
The club’s willingness to negotiate directly with UEFA suggests a pragmatic acceptance that the original model cannot succeed without broader support from fans, domestic leagues and governing bodies.
European club football now returns to its traditional competitive structure, though questions remain about how the agreed principles on sustainability and technology will be applied across different competitions.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
