Barcelona President Laporta: ‘The Super League Continues’

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has insisted that the breakaway European Super League isn’t dead and continues in its mission to be realized one day.

After widespread backlash, especially from the fans of the six English clubs that had signed up, the potential championship broke down. Barca, Real Madrid and Juventus have remained adamant that it still has potential however, and in an interview with TVE this weekend, Laporta pointed out that the Super League can still get off the ground but cannot harm domestic leagues.

“We speak with [Real Madrid president] Florentino, of course. We are in the Super League, we are promoting the Super League. That goes on. The Super League is a way to save European football, [by] fitting it into the football ecosystem, without destroying the state leagues,” Laporta insisted.

“We have no interest in destroying these leagues because they are fundamental, apart from the attractiveness they have. We have to find the fit. Yes, we are promoting the Super League. It would be the most attractive competition in the world.

“We cannot let European football be in the hands of states that do not belong to the European Union,” Laporta insisted. “We repeat it ad nauseam.”

“We have to continue along this path because otherwise it will be distorted and European football will not be sustainable. Clubs like Barça, Madrid or Juventus have a history and a track record and it has to be taken into account.

“We see little collaboration from UEFA in this regard,” Laporta stressed. “It is clear that [Manchester] City and [Paris Saint Germain] have a money-making machine, and we are fighting against that. Not only the three clubs that I mention -Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus] but others that are silent. But from behind they give us their support,” Laporta claimed.

In the wide-ranging interview, Laporta also spoke on Barca’s potential coup for Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland – who could cost well over $300mn – and how the Catalans’ fortunes have turned round since he appointed club legend Xavi Hernandez to replace Ronald Koeman as first team coach earlier this season.