The former Barça player Julio Alberto announces his own Foundation to fight against addiction

Former blaugrana Julio Alberto Moreno, accompanied by the director general of the FC Barcelona Foundation, Dra. Marta Segú, launched the Relife Foundation at the Auditori 1899 at Spotify Camp Nou, a personal project that has as its mission to educate, train, warn and help people, especially the young, about the perils of addiction and support those already with problems. 

The event was attended also by the first vice president of FC Barcelona, Rafael Yuste, members of the Board of Directors, former team mates of Julio Alberto and former players who represent the Agrupació Barça Jugadors, led by its president Juan Manuel Asensi. 

After his recovery from addiction some 20 years ago, the former player has followed his dream of creating a body to work in the field of addiction, via programmes of education, prevention and help. The Relife Foundation works on prevention and also as a voice to raise awareness amongst young people about the negative impact of addiction via talks and workshops at schools and colleges at a time when a notable increase has been perceived in mental health problems and the risk of addiction in this age group. 

The project boasts specialists in the field and is funded as a foundation via events, the creation of its own products and also via 'Life Angels', a badge that has been created for all those people, brands, organisations and businesses that donate to Relife. 

The initiative from its beginning has received support and guidance from the FC Barcelona Foundation, who will also continue to collaborate with Relife. 

Global problem 

It is estimated that 275 million people worldwide consume drugs and just in 2021 36 million people suffered serious problems due to addiction. Elsewhere, levels of anxiety amongst young people have increased by 70% with four out of five young people admitting that improper use of social media serious affects their state of mind and their self-image. Suicide rates amongst young people have also seen an alarming rise post-pandemic, touching an increase of 250%. The consumption of new substances, online pornography and gambling are the causes of growing numbers of addictions amongst young people. 

Statement from Julio Alberto

“After so many years, of meeting success but not knowing how to deal with it, one realises that there is nothing better in this life than helping other people. All of my experience helps me now to get the Relife Foundation off the ground, my life's work is born out of a mission: to get lives back. It is a great responsibility but at the same time a pleasant challenge." 

Statement from Dra. Marta Segú 

"Julio Alberto has worked with the FC Barcelona Foundation for over 20 years, bringing his life experience to bear for young people to learn from. Today we are very happy to give our support to this initiative led by a much loved former player. In our vocation of giving support to vulnerable groups, we believe that the creation of a foundation like Relife is essential to make young people aware of the negative impact of addiction and help those that have already fallen into its grasp, affecting their present and possibly irredeemably affecting their future."