According to a report by Madrid Universal on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Real Madrid are reportedly seeking financial contributions from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur to cover expenses linked to the abandoned European Super League project, with the outstanding bill estimated at €80 million.

The Spanish giants believe the six Premier League clubs should fulfil their financial obligations despite withdrawing from the controversial competition shortly after its announcement in April 2021. The proposed breakaway tournament ultimately failed to gain sufficient support, leaving questions about the expenses incurred during its planning and promotion.

Real Madrid have remained closely associated with the project since its launch but have reportedly begun moving away from the initiative. The club has also improved its relationship with UEFA following years of disagreements over the proposed competition and its potential impact on European football.

However, the financial dispute surrounding the failed project remains unresolved. According to the report, Real Madrid wants the English clubs that initially agreed to participate to contribute towards the original costs rather than leaving the financial burden to the remaining parties.

Barcelona and Juventus have reportedly shared promotional expenses associated with the initiative alongside Real Madrid. The Spanish club now believes the six English sides should also honour their commitments under the original arrangement.

Nevertheless, recovering the money could prove challenging because of uncertainty surrounding the legal obligations of the founding members. All 12 clubs involved in the initial agreement reportedly signed a shareholders’ contract connected to the European Super League Company, a holding company established in Spain.

The central question concerns the interpretation of the agreement, particularly provisions relating to the clubs’ joint ownership and management of the project. How those clauses are interpreted could determine whether the English teams are legally required to contribute to the outstanding expenses.

Leaked documents associated with the competition reportedly contain no explicit requirement obliging all participating clubs to share the costs. This could weaken Real Madrid’s position and make negotiations more complicated.

If discussions fail to produce a settlement, the Spanish club could consider taking legal action against the six Premier League sides. Such a move could trigger a prolonged court dispute over the financial responsibilities arising from the failed competition.

The development comes as Real Madrid reportedly prepare to appoint former A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart as their new head of business operations. A22 was responsible for promoting the Super League and later advancing proposals for the Unify League.