Real Madrid are reportedly seeking financial compensation from the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ over the collapse of the European Super League, arguing that the English clubs remain liable for part of the breakaway competition’s start-up costs.
According to The Athletic, the Spanish giants believe Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham must contribute towards the expenses incurred after signing the original European Super League Company agreement in April 2021.
The project’s start-up costs are reportedly as high as €80m (£67.3m).
The six English clubs were among 12 founding members of the controversial competition.
However, following a wave of withdrawals, Real Madrid remain the only club committed to the project.
The latest development comes as the club reportedly moves closer to appointing German businessman Bernd Reichart as its new head of business operations.
Reichart previously served as chief executive of A22, the Madrid-based management company tasked with overseeing the proposed competition.
The Super League’s format has undergone several changes in an effort to address criticism and attract wider support.
In December 2023, a proposal outlined an open 64-team competition divided into three divisions, with promotion and relegation. About a year later, the structure was revised to a 96-team competition known as the ‘Unify League’, divided into four tiers.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has maintained his position that the clubs which initially signed up for the project could not simply withdraw from their commitments.
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After the Premier League clubs began pulling out, Perez insisted that they remained bound by their agreements.
“I’m not going to take my time to explain what a binding contract is here,” he stated. “But the fact is, the clubs can’t leave.”
Perez maintained that stance months before Barcelona withdrew alongside Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid.
He also argued that Real Madrid had legal grounds to pursue compensation from UEFA and retain the right to organise a competition in the future.
“We have had our right to create our own competitions recognised,” he insisted. “We can also claim multimillion euro damages for UEFA’s conduct.
“We have two rights: to be compensated for our losses, and to arrange a competition in the future, and we will tirelessly pursue both.”
The reported compensation demand marks another development in Real Madrid’s continued efforts to pursue the Super League project despite the withdrawal of most of its founding clubs.
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