Barcelona chief executive Manel del Rio resigns after just one year in the role

Barcelona’s chief executive Manel del Rio has resigned after only a year in the post, prompting a fresh review of responsibilities within the club’s executive structure.

The Spanish newspaper ARA reported that Del Rio formally stepped down and said goodbye to the board on Monday. Wednesday will be his final day at Camp Nou.

Barcelona said the departure had been agreed mutually and that the handover had taken place smoothly, without disagreement between the two parties.

Del Rio joined Barcelona in September 2022, initially serving as an assistant to Maribel Melendez, who was the club’s general manager at the time. He arrived after the departure of Ferran Reverter, who had previously held the position.

His resignation leaves Barcelona facing another change at the top of its administrative operation, with the club now considering how executive duties should be allocated during the next phase of its restructuring.

Sergio Serrano set for increased influence

Sergio Serrano, the latest addition to Barcelona’s executive team, is expected to take on a significant role following Del Rio’s departure.

Serrano joined the club from Banco Sabadell and is set to assume responsibility for Barcelona’s finances, an area described in the report as a particularly difficult matter for the club.

Barcelona has already interviewed several candidates to become its next general manager, according to the sources cited by ARA. The club is also considering options from within its existing workforce.

An internal promotion, which could involve giving greater authority to current Barcelona employees, remains firmly under consideration as the search for Del Rio’s successor continues.

The process is therefore expected to combine external interviews with an assessment of the talent already working at Camp Nou, as the club determines the shape of its executive leadership following the unexpected resignation.