The president of Barcelona, Joan Laporta, has claimed the European Super League could be up and running by next season, but insisted he “doesn’t care” whether English clubs join the breakaway competition.
Speaking to the Catalan radio station RAC1, Laporta named 15 clubs he believed would be willing to join the competition if it got off the ground but also hinted he may walk away from the project if it is not established soon.
“The Super League could start next season, or it will be in 2025-26, and if not, I will rethink everything,” Laporta said.
Laporta said his view was that a competition of 16 teams was possible in the short term. “In addition to Barça and Madrid, there would be the Italians: Inter, Milan, Napoli and Roma,” he said. “Also French teams such as Olympique de Marseille, and the three Portuguese, Sporting, Benfica and Porto, who would be delighted to come. And there are the Dutch teams [Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV] and Bruges and Anderlecht from Belgium. A 16-team competition would be better.
“The European Cup started in 1955 with very few clubs and later became the top competition in Europe. I imagine a first phase like this, and [more clubs] then integrating.”
Asked about the prospect of English clubs joining, Laporta said: “Whether or not the English come, I don’t care. They already have a Super League with the Premier League.”
Barcelona are one of two clubs, alongside Real Madrid, who remain publicly committed to a Super League, which was relaunched before Christmas after a ruling by the European court of justice that insisted Uefa must fairly consider proposals from new competitions.
After that decision most clubs who were part of the original breakaway said they would no longer consider joining the Super League. On Friday clubs mentioned by Laporta moved to distance themselves from his remarks.
“AS Roma reiterates that it does not support any project related to the so-called Super League,” said the Italian side in a statement given to AFP. Marseille and Feyenoord also denied any interest.