Barcelona to exit The Superleague leaving only Real Madrid

Originally posted on Football Espana | By Ruairidh Barlow | Last updated Oct 3, 2025 7:36 AM ET

Barcelona and Real Madrid have been the bulk of the remaining lobby for The Superleague, a project seeking to reform the premier competition in European football and replace UEFA’s Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. The Catalan giants are reportedly considering leaving the project after 4.5 years.

That is according to RAC1, Barcelona have decided not to continue as part of the Superleague. The project started in April of 2021, with 12 founding members, but after a virulent reaction, their numbers were reduced to three; Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona. La Vecchia Signora have since left the Clasico duo to forge ahead with the project.

Barcelona positive about UEFA changes

The reason behind Barcelona’s change of thinking appears to be motivated by UEFA. Europe’s governing body have alterd the format of the Champions League, and ensured more money for the ‘biggest’ teams in the competition, something Barcelona are happy with. An improvement in relations between Barcelona and UEFA, exemplified by exchanges between presidents Joan Laporta and Aleksander Ceferin. Barcelona no longer see the need to pursue a new competition, and even if the European Courts grant The Superleague the right to go ahead with it, this will not change Barcelona’s stance.

Superleague organizers in danger of bankruptcy

This could be a definitive blow to The Superleague, and follows on from news that the organising company behind it, A22, is in danger of bankruptcy . Their CEO, Bernd Reichart, has been the face of The Superleague alongside Laporta and Real Madrid President Florentino Perez, and presented the new format.

Fermín López has begun to do recovery on the pitch. It's expected that he will be able to play against Girona after the break. @alexpintanel

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) October 3, 2025

Real Madrid and Barcelona to split?

This could also be the beginning of a wider split between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Last year at Los Blancos’ General Assembly, Perez called on ‘big clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona to help each other’, while their interests have been aligned since The Superleague. Yet Real Madrid too have recently promised to pursue maximum punishment for Barcelona with regard to the ongoing Negreira case.

This article first appeared on Football Espana and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: