“He is very serious, correct, disciplined, and highly methodical. He doesn’t seek notoriety nor likes being in the media spotlight. He only appears in public when necessary. He has never been seen as someone eager to climb the ranks.” This is how those who have worked with him in recent years describe Manel Del Río, who has been appointed by Joan Laporta as the new General Director of FC Barcelona.
Del Río joined Barça in September 2022, initially serving as the deputy to Maribel Meléndez, the former Corporate General Director of the Blaugrana club. He now fills a position that has been vacant since February 2022 following Ferran Reverter’s resignation. The role was temporarily covered by Ferran Olivé, the club’s director and treasurer, Maribel Meléndez, and Del Río, the former Financial and Corporate Director.
Highly Skilled and Internationally Educated
The new General Director of Barça is highly qualified for the role. Demonstrating impressive capabilities during his school years, he holds a degree in International Business from the University of Nottingham, a business diploma from the University of Beijing, and a master’s in International Management from Esade. “He boasts excellent English, allowing him to negotiate on equal footing, as with Goldman Sachs. He is very cultured in his communication, well-prepared. He can adapt his language to different interlocutors, which is not a simple task. He has negotiated with American banks in technically advanced English and then explained it in a comprehensible manner to journalists or club Senators,” club insiders say of Del Río.
Team Player and Responsible Leader
Also noted about Del Río are his confidentiality, teamwork abilities, and sense of responsibility. “He is very discreet with confidential matters, a trait surely appreciated by the president. He is very reflective and prudent in his actions. Even if he holds a different opinion, he embraces the chosen one as his own and defends the club’s interests. He knows how to work in a team.” Praise for the new Barça General Director, a family man, he has two children, and is a sports enthusiast, covering many kilometers on his bicycle.
Proven Track Record in the International Scene
Del Río joined Barça after working for six years at Royal Talens, an international company in the painting industry. Initially, he served as a Financial Controller and later became the Financial Director of the company in Spain.
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