Florentino Perez says the ESL was created "to save football"
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez says the 12 clubs that agreed to join a new European Super League have "binding contracts" and "cannot leave".
Nine of the 12 teams, including all six Premier League clubs, withdrew from the proposed tournament on Tuesday after the plan sparked a furious backlash.
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus have not yet abandoned the project.
"I don't need to explain what a binding contract is, but effectively the clubs cannot leave," Perez told newspaper AS.
"Some of them, due to pressure, have said they're leaving. But this project, or one very similar, will move forward and I hope very soon."
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The Real president added it was "not true" American investment bank JP Morgan – who had provided a 3.5bn euro (£2.8bn) grant to the founding members – had abandoned the ESL.
"They have taken some time for reflection, just like the 12 clubs. If we need to make changes we will but the Super League is the best project we've thought of," Perez said.
"What we have done is taken a few weeks to reflect in light of the fury of certain people who don't want to lose their privileges and have manipulated the project."
Perez said on Thursday – in the aftermath of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham's withdrawing – that the ESL was still on "standby".
La Liga club Atletico Madrid and Italian sides AC Milan and Inter Milan have also formally pulled out, while Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli admitted the project could no longer proceed.
The 12-team Super League was announced on Sunday to widespread condemnation and has since prompted large protests outside grounds in England.
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Comment posted by BeigeAthleticGhost, at 16:02 24 AprBeigeAthleticGhost
16:02 24 AprYour dream is over Perez, and the nightmare you have created from your years of greed and over-spending are about become a reality.116247
Comment posted by ivor, at 16:04 24 Aprivor
16:04 24 AprSurely UEFA need to take action against Perez. He has undermined and brought football into disrepute maybe a ban from all football activities across UEFA would be appropriate?97436
Comment posted by Ash, at 16:04 24 AprAsh
16:04 24 AprI laughed when Perez said “how are Real Madrid supposed to buy Mbappe now?”. There is the reason he wanted the ESL, the deluded old git.90021
Comment posted by TheMiller, at 16:01 24 AprTheMiller
16:01 24 AprWhat a joke of a man Perez is. If football is dying, it’s the likes of him and his greed killing it. Real’s problem is they’ve spent billions in search of glory and made their league thoroughly boring in the process. The solution is to trim their wage and transfer bill, not build a closed shop and send every other club bust. Kick RM out of the UCL please.67113
Comment posted by Stephen Goodchild, at 16:03 24 AprStephen Goodchild
16:03 24 AprFlorentino Perez is just clutching at straws. Without the European Super League Real Madrid are effectively bankrupt. No more Galacticos!!65814
Comment posted by Peace be with you, at 16:12 24 AprPeace be with you
16:12 24 AprMy worry, is that all this is acting as perfect cover for UEFA to bring in their expanded Champions League without anyone complaining. That will surely lead to a European League anyway. Are we all being taken for fools?5577
Comment posted by Irate Caterpillar, at 16:14 24 AprIrate Caterpillar
16:14 24 AprWhen he says ‘to save football’ of course what he really means is to save his own club from financial ruin as they, and Barcelona are in so much debt. And, if it’s true that JP Morgan have that kind of money spare then, in the current situation, that money could be better used for other more worthwhile projects, on a humanitarian scale, not for football.49927
Comment posted by Tombo, at 16:02 24 AprTombo
16:02 24 AprThat man does not care about fans or football, only greed.3259
Comment posted by aldojani76, at 16:01 24 Apraldojani76
16:01 24 AprThe ramblings of a mad man whose own clubs survival is very much dependent on the ESL. That 1 billion slate of debt is going to take come clearing.3118
Comment posted by golfghost, at 16:03 24 Aprgolfghost
16:03 24 AprClub president? He acts more like a bond villain2865
Comment posted by ypcress_fyle, at 16:10 24 Aprypcress_fyle
16:10 24 AprThe Americans have been terrified ever since the upstart Leicester City dared to win the PL. They do not want to that happen again.25811
Comment posted by Rugbyfan, at 16:03 24 AprRugbyfan
16:03 24 AprSay’s it all when Perez says and I quote “What we have done is taken a few weeks to reflect in light of the fury of certain people who don’t want to lose their privileges and have manipulated the project.”
So true fans of football don’t have an opinion ! What a…..2505
Comment posted by MrBBCisthisnameallowed, at 16:04 24 AprMrBBCisthisnameallowed
16:04 24 AprHas the old Sepp Blatter I am God and untouchable syndrome. We know what happened there!2360
Comment posted by DaveP, at 16:04 24 AprDaveP
16:04 24 AprComing UEFA ban Real Madrid from all European competitions1676
Comment posted by Wayne Smith , at 16:02 24 AprWayne Smith
16:02 24 AprThey’ve already left. Either way, I’m sure any contract of this nature – as with all contracts would have a so called “cooling off period.” It’d never stand up in the courts if Perez tried to force it.15310
Comment posted by StokeOnTheWater, at 16:00 24 AprStokeOnTheWater
16:00 24 AprIs he as deluded as he sounds ?1454
Comment posted by Ed, at 16:03 24 AprEd
16:03 24 AprAbsolute plonker. Real life super villain.1412
Comment posted by TardiGrade, at 16:04 24 AprTardiGrade
16:04 24 AprPadded cell for Perez, nutter, which part of there’s not going to be a ESL doesnt he understand?1203
Comment posted by MattySW, at 16:02 24 AprMattySW
16:02 24 AprJust one look at the guy and you can tell he’s full of his own self importance1085
Comment posted by KopOfTheLeague, at 16:02 24 AprKopOfTheLeague
16:02 24 AprPerez says other non-ESL clubs don’t want to lose their privileges?
Pot calling the kettle black.601