Real Madrid is reportedly reviving the Super League dispute by demanding that six English founder clubs cover part of the project’s start-up costs. The claim is being aimed at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, with the reported total said to reach €80 million. The original announcement came in April 2021, and the English clubs pulled out just days later.

The claim and the clubs named

The size of the bill is what makes this stand out. A Bola says the figure being chased could reach €80 million, while si.com has reported a $90 million claim, so the exact number is still being disputed in the reporting. What is not in dispute is that Real Madrid is trying to turn the abandoned project into a live financial argument again.

Florentino Pérez made his position clear in comments quoted by si.com: "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." He also told A Bola, in comments translated from Portuguese, "could not leave."

Why the contract wording matters

The fight now turns on the wording that the clubs would "hold and manage jointly" the competition. That is where Real Madrid’s case seems to rest, and it is also where the pushback sits, because the question is whether that language created financial liability as well as sporting commitment.

Madriduniversal.com says Real Madrid may have to take the issue to court if no consensus is reached. The same report says the club is also preparing to appoint Bernd Reichart, the former CEO of A22, as its new head of business operations.

The dispute is landing while Real Madrid are third in La Liga with 21 points from 9 games, and eighth in the Champions League league phase with 6 points from 2 matches. Arsenal, one of the clubs named in the claim, are second in the Premier League with 18 points from 7 games. The legal fight is still open, and the next move may depend on whether the clubs can agree before it goes back to court.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →