Real Madrid want six Premier League clubs to share €80m Super League costs

Real Madrid want six Premier League clubs to contribute towards the costs of the abandoned European Super League (ESL), with the total bill potentially reaching €80 million (£67.3m).

According to an exclusive report by The Athletic, the Spanish giants believe Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur should share the initial expenses of establishing the breakaway competition, despite withdrawing from the project shortly after its launch in April 2021.

Multiple sources familiar with the situation told The Athletic that Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus have so far shared the promotional costs associated with the proposed competition. The ESL was launched by 12 founding clubs but collapsed following widespread opposition from supporters and the wider football community. Nine clubs, including all six English representatives, withdrew within days of its announcement.

However, the clubs had signed a shareholders’ agreement for the European Super League Company, leaving questions over whether their financial obligations survived their withdrawals. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez previously insisted: “I’m not going to take my time to explain what a binding contract is here. But the fact is, the clubs can’t leave.”

The Athletic reported that the dispute could hinge on the agreement’s wording concerning the clubs’ commitment to jointly own and manage the project. Although the English clubs have been approached for comment, the legal position remains unresolved.

Documents reviewed by The Athletic reportedly contain no explicit provision requiring the clubs to share the costs. The report’s analysis suggests Madrid may have to pursue legal action to recover the money, potentially prolonging the dispute between the founding members.