Juan José Castillo Sabata, journalist and former FC Barcelona executive, has died at the age of 61 at his home in Barcelona. Castillo was a very popular figure among the players of the Barcelona first team, for whom he was a basic support on a day-to-day basis during Rijkaard's stage, from the Player Service Office.
Born on December 1, 1960, Castillo completed part of his studies in England. A great lover of the NBA, the NHL and the NFL, but especially football and Barça, he became part of the executive structure of FC Barcelona in 2003, after the electoral victory of Joan Laporta. He went through the communication department and set up the Player Service Office from which he became the support of numerous footballers of the time, especially foreigners. Nicknamed 'Cabeçao' by the Barcelona footballers, he helped Deco, Márquez or Motta in successive interventions and recovery processes.
Also very loved by Ronaldinho, whom he has also accompanied on several occasions after his time as a player, he wrote the book 'Amigo Ronaldinho' in 2005, edited by Mundo Deportivo. He left the club in 2007 to return in 2010, during the mandate of a Sandro Rosell for whom he was an advisor and later responsible for communication of the professional sections. His stage at Barcelona ended in April 2021, after the electoral victory of Joan Laporta.
The third son of Marcelo Juan José Castillo Biesa, director of Mundo Deportivo between 1976 and 1988, and Maria Lluïsa Sabata also more recently accompanied club players during their injuries, as is the case of the futsal team captain, Sergio Lozano. The player said goodbye to him through his social networks: "Rest in peace friend! Thank you for everything, and for treating me so well from the moment we met! I will miss your calls when you gave me a hard time!, DEP".
In recent years, Juanjo Castillo presented the Juan José Castillo Prize for Journalism at the Mundo Deportivo Sports Gala. His father was an indisputable reference both in Mundo Deportivo and in Catalan sports journalism. From La Vanguardia we join in the condolences and send our condolences and support to the family and friends of Juan José Castillo Sabata. Rest in peace.
