Antonio Álvarez resigns as Barcelona SC president amid controversy and unfulfilled promises

Antonio Álvarez formally stepped down as president of Barcelona SC on August 5, 2026, concluding a tenure marked by controversy and a perceived lack of sporting and institutional success. His time leading the club was punctuated by a series of public statements that, in retrospect, have been widely criticized for being inaccurate or ultimately detrimental to his administration.

Throughout his presidency, Álvarez made several pronouncements that have since been scrutinized. For instance, on November 1, 2023, he declared, "Barcelona is only made for the Copa Libertadores." This statement came amidst a period where the club's performance in the tournament did not align with such a singular focus.

Further fueling criticism were his assurances about team building. On January 4, 2024, he stated, "We are working hard to assemble a competitive team... No 'chimichurri' names will come, competitive players will come." However, the team's subsequent performance and player acquisitions did not consistently reflect this promise.

Álvarez also made ambitious plans for the club's youth system and subsidiary team, Toreros. He aimed to promote Toreros to Serie B by 2025, intending it as a development tool for young players. Yet, by November 8, 2024, he acknowledged the project's failure, noting that "Barcelona SC cannot be irresponsible and continue to allocate approximately $500,000 annually to a project (Toreros) that is a failure... Not a single player has emerged since the project was conceived."