Barcelona president Joan Laporta has insisted that the controversial European Super League is still "alive", despite the swift withdrawal of most of the founding clubs earlier this year.
The announcement in April of a newly-formed European Super League comprising Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Juventus, and Inter Milan caused uproar among the football community. It was quickly abandoned after fan-led protests as the majority of clubs apologised for their involvement.
Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus remain in the seemingly doomed breakaway competition, with the other nine clubs all withdrawing and signing agreements with Uefa prohibiting them from repeating their actions.
Laporta, however, revealed Barca are still moving ahead with the plans.
"The project is alive. The three clubs who are defending the project are winning all the court cases," he told television channel Esport 3.
"Uefa cannot stop it, and the pressure on English clubs, who were those behind the plans, hasn't had any effect. Granted, it could have been presented in a better way."
Barcelona's well-documented financial problems - Laporta revealed last month the club is in €1.35 billion ($1.6bn) in debt - have led to the shock exit of Lionel Messi and loan departure of Antoine Griezmann back to Atletico. Meanwhile, senior players including Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Gerard Pique all took significant pay cuts to allow Barca to register new signings Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia, and Sergio Aguero.
Despite those issues, Laporta revealed that after becoming Barcelona president he made an approach to Brazilian forward Neymar about a return to the Camp Nou, four years after his €222m world record move to Paris Saint-Germain.
"We tried to sign Neymar. He contacted us, and he wanted to come - he was crazy to come back to the club," Laporta said.
"However, back then we interpreted (La Liga's) Financial Fair Play in another way. If we hadn't have done so, we wouldn't have made him an offer."
Real Madrid fans protest against European Super League
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Fans gather outside the stadium to protest against the European Super League prior to the La Liga match between Cadiz and Real Madrid on Wednesday, April 21. Getty -
Fans gather outside the stadium to protest against the European Super League. Getty -
Fans gather outside the stadium to protest against the European Super League. Getty -
The Cadiz team bus is welcomed in by fans prior to the La Liga match against Real Madrid. Getty -
Fans gather outside the stadium to protest against the European Super League prior to the La Liga match between Cadiz and Real Madrid. Getty -
Cadiz's Alvaro Negredo, left, and Salvi Sanchez wear t-shirts that read in Spanish: "Super League? Soccer belongs to everyone" and "Soccer belongs to supporters" prior to the match. AP -
Karim Benzema scores their first goal against Cadiz rom the penalty spot. Reuters -
Real Madrid's Alvaro Odriozola celebrates scoring their second goal against Cadiz. Reuters -
Karim Benzema scores the third. Reuters -
Karim Benzema celebrates. Reuters -
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez arrives at a radio station to give an interview. Reuters
