June 7 – The much-maligned European Super League has suffered a further blow with the news that one of the three remaining rebel clubs, Juventus, have signalled their intention to quit the project.
Juve, Real Madrid and Barcelona are awaiting a ruling expected within weeks from the European Court of Justice into their legal challenge against what they claimed is UEFA’s monopoly control of European club competitions.
But Juventus responded to reports it already left the Super League by explaining it contacted the two Spanish clubs “to initiate a discussion period” about its exit.
Juve denied, however, that it had been threatened with a European ban by UEFA.
The three clubs are the only ones still holding out after the other original nine from Italy, Spain and England ditched the breakaway idea in April 2021 before it could even get off the ground.
Juve’s move seems intrinsically linked to the fact that it has been a disastrous season on and off the pitch including a 10-point deduction for false accounting that left the club in seventh spot instead of qualifying for the next Champions League, and the subsequent loss of millions of Euros of income.
Long-time club president Andrea Agnelli, who had been a UEFA executive committee member and chairman of the influential European Club Association, resigned in November and now Juve have chosen to break ranks with Real and Barca by writing to request talks that will centre around “the potential Juventus exit from the Super League Project”.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1738986538labto1738986538ofdlr1738986538owedi1738986538sni@w1738986538ahsra1738986538w.wer1738986538dna1738986538