Florentino Perez: 'European Super League clubs cannot leave'

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has insisted that the 12 clubs who signed up to the European Super League "cannot leave" due to binding contracts.

The 74-year-old is one of the few staunch supporters of the doomed project, which saw nine of the 'Dirty Dozen' withdraw from plans after a fierce backlash from fans, players, managers and governing bodies.

Real Madrid - along with Barcelona and Juventus - are the only three teams that remain committed to the project, but Perez has claimed that the breakaway tournament will soon move forward and it is not that easy for other clubs to pull out.

Speaking to AS, the Blancos president said: "I don't need to explain what a binding contract is but effectively, the clubs cannot leave.

"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."

Leaked contracts from the Super League plans supposedly state that any club wishing to leave will incur a £130m withdrawal fee, while Barcelona and Real Madrid were set to pocket £52m more than their rivals.