Normality has somewhat returned to world football, but the issue of the European Super League remains a huge talking point. Despite all but two clubs having withdrawn from the competition, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez remains adamant that the competition will go through and has issued a threat against those who announced their exit.
It was last week that this breakaway tournament was announced, with 12 of Europe's biggest teams unveiling this controversial competition that would rival the UEFA Champions League back on Sunday. They were Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico, Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham,
This move was met with worldwide condemnation from football's governing bodies such as FIFA and UEFA, pundits and commentators, and the fans of the participating clubs. Come Tuesday, all six Premier League side caved in and withdrew from the tournament, with Atletico Madrid, Inter, and AC Milan following suite the next morning.
Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli later admitted that the project cannot go through but president of Real Madrid has taken a more defiant stance and is unwilling to admit defeat. In fact, the Los Blancos executive has gone as far as issuing a statement to those who have withdrawn from the competition, claiming that they cannot leave as they signed binding contracts.
"I'm not going to explain now what a binding contract is," Perez told AS. "But the clubs cannot leave.
"Some of them, because of pressure, have had to say that they're leaving. But this project or one like it will go forward, and I hope it's soon.
"The Super League still exists, and the members are still in it. Now we have given ourselves some weeks to think, while we face the violence that some people, who don't want to lose their privileges, have used to manipulate our project."
According to reports, Chelsea and Man City were never sold on this project and only joined due to the fear of being left out. Whether these Premier League giants will return to the table remains uncertain but with Barcelona president Joan Laporta also expressing his desire for a European Super League, this matter is unlikely to go away anytime soon.
