Juventus abandon support of Super League
- Nine of the 12 founding Super League members pulled out in April 2021
- Barcelona, Real Madrid & Juentus remained loyal to the project
- Juventus began discussing an exit earlier this summer
By Tom Gott
Juventus have confirmed they have started the formal process of leaving the infamous European Super League project.
The grossly unpopular proposal from April 2021 was quickly abandoned by nine of the 12 founding sides - Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, AC Milan, Inter and Atletico Madrid.
Juventus remained loyal in their support of the project, alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona, repeatedly arguing that forming a Super League would be best for European football until revealing in June that they had discussed walking away.
Now formalising their plans to withdraw support, a Juventus statement read: "Reference is made to our previous communication dated 6 June 2023, pursuant to which Juventus announced the commencement of a period of discussions with Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, clubs not having hitherto announced their intention to exit the Super League project, in respect of Juventus' proposed decision to exit from said project.
"Following such discussions, and given the existing discrepancies on the interpretation of the relevant contractual terms applicable to the Super League Project, Juventus confirms that it has initiated the procedure to exit therefrom, but it also acknowledges that, under the applicable contractual terms, its exit will be completed and effective only if previously authorised by Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and the remaining clubs involved in the Super League Project."
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Barcelona president Joan Laporta and Real Madrid counterpart Florentino Perez have spoken openly about their desire to reignite the process, with the former still vowing to see a Super League formed by 2025.
Also influential in the project was former Juventus president Andrea Agnelli who, along with the rest of the Turin board, resigned in November amid investigations into financial mismanagement which landed him a 16-month ban from all football activity.
Most of the talk surrounding the Super League since its initial collapse has revolved around punishments for those clubs in support, with Barcelona and Real Madrid fighting off the threat of UEFA sanctions.
Both La Liga sides will have to approve Juventus' exit from the Super League project before it is made official.
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