Joan Laporta: 'The European Super League is not abandoned'

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has insisted that plans for a European Super League have not been abandoned.

Twelve leading continental clubs announced their intentions to form the breakaway competition last April before dropping out one by one amid fierce backlash from fans, players and pundits alike.

However, Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid have all been vocal in their continued support for the Super League, and Laporta has claimed that clubs who have dropped out are just "waiting" for a new format to be announced.

"Super League abandoned? No, far from it. We are still here with Juventus, Real Madrid and other teams waiting. English clubs are still waiting, whether Manchester, Liverpool or the Germans too," Laporta told Mundo Deportivo.

"They are waiting to see if it will be a new competition format or if it will be an improved Champions League. But we are here and we win in each of the legal proceedings that have been initiated. We are now waiting for the verdict of the European Court and we hope that it will rule by the end of the year."

Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United all initially signed up for the competition last year, while Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Inter Milan also formed part of the founding 12.