A high-profile court case is unfolding in Barcelona: former Espanyol midfielder Álvaro Aguado has found himself at the center of an investigation on charges of sexual assault. The incident took place in the summer of 2024 during a party celebrating the team’s promotion to the top division. According to the investigation, the events occurred at one of the city’s nightclubs where the celebration was being held.
According to case materials, the young man approached a club employee whom he had not previously met and began showing her unwanted attention. It is alleged that he then led the woman into the restroom of the Opium venue and committed acts of violence against her, preventing anyone from entering. After the incident, the footballer reportedly asked the victim who would leave first, reminding her that they did not know each other.
The victim, who still works for Espanyol, sought medical and psychological help after the incident. An examination confirmed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, which the court considers consistent with her account of what happened. The case files include the woman’s messages with friends as well as witness statements corroborating details of the events before and after the incident.
Aguado himself does not deny that there was contact between him and the woman, but insists that everything happened with mutual consent. Nevertheless, the judge considered that there was enough evidence for the case to go to trial. A bail of 5,000 euros was set to ensure possible compensation for the victim.
Interestingly, Espanyol’s management took no action against the player after learning of the complaint. The club did not activate internal protocols, and Aguado soon left the team and is currently not affiliated with any club. Meanwhile, the victim continues to work within Espanyol’s organization.
