Juventus deny a return to the European Club Association

Credit: Photo by Icon sport

Juventus insist they are not interested in joining the European Club Association, despite Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s invitation.

Juventus left the ECA in 2021 after joining the “European Super League”, a project they had helped create alongside La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. Their former president, Andrea Agnelli, resigned as ECA chairman when the Super League was announced, and was replaced by PSG’s Al-Khelaifi. However, the Super League project did not last long, as 48 hours after the official announcement, the five invited Premier League clubs withdrew, followed by Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Inter. Juventus also left the group last summer, leaving Real Madrid and Barcelona as the only two clubs still formally involved in the separatist competition. However, Juventus has still not changed its mind about its involvement in the ECA, as it has no plans to join the European Club Association. “Juventus FC is not evaluating the possibility of joining the ECA at this time,” the club’s press office told Reuters in an email.

Juventus’s brief statement follows an informal invitation from ECA and PSG president Al-Khelaifi, who spoke to reporters after an ECA board meeting in Copenhagen on Thursday: “S’they stop what they are trying to fight for, which I think is a stupid project, they are always welcome. I’ve spoken to the owner and, you know, he’s called me and I think they want to come back. They are certainly welcome,” said Al-Khelaifi.