European Super League saga finally ends 5 years after Liverpool U-turn

Liverpool was one of the 12 clubs to sign up to the European Super League in 2021 before swiftly pulling out, and the project is now officially over after a Real Madrid statement

Florentino Perez, the president of Real Madrid.(Image: Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Real Madrid has confirmed that it has pulled out of the European Super League in an official statement, with the controversial plan finally officially over.

Liverpool was one of a number of major teams around the continent to sign up to the idea in 2021, which drew widespread backlash and was almost immediately deemed implausible as a result. Barcelona, who pulled out last week, and now Real Madrid were the last sides to officially perform a U-turn.

"UEFA, the European Football Clubs (EFC, the sole, independent body representing football clubs within Europe) and Real Madrid CF reach an agreement for the good of European club football," read a statement published by Real Madrid and UEFA.

"This agreement of principles will also serve to resolve their legal disputes related to the European Super League, once such principles are executed and implemented."

A total of 12 clubs signed up to form the breakaway league initially, half of which were Premier League sides Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.

However, all six English sides withdrew with 72 hours of the announcement. Juventus withdrew in June 2024 but it has taken almost another two years for the Spanish teams to agree to do the same.

Banners and football scarves are tied to the fences around Anfield Stadium, the home of Liverpool Football Club, in protest at the club's intentions to join the European Super League on April 20, 2021

Wanting more money because they draw the biggest interest in terms of audience, most of the clubs who signed up to the European Super League quickly turned their backs on the idea when it was so obviously unviable.

John Henry, the FSG chief, issued an apology to Liverpool fans at the time. Jurgen Klopp, the manager at the time, and his players had no say in joining up.

Since the European Super League plan emerged, the Champions League format has changed. There is a higher volume of games, which means more revenue, and an extra layer of insurance against going out early thanks to the play-off round.

Though it is not a closed shop entirely, there are similarities that can be drawn between the European Super League concept and what UEFA's new format looks like now.

Real Madrid will face Benfica in the play-offs. Liverpool, having finished inside the top eight spots in the league phase, will play one of Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray or Juventus in the last-16.

Liverpool.com says: The Super League idea was never going to go down well with fans. The most insane thing about it was anyone thinking that it would.

Something needs to change to address the economic imbalance between the Premier League clubs and the rest of the continent, but this was not going to do that.