Mateu Alemany (with added Alberto Benito and Pablo Rodriguez)

[SaddVillan]

Hot off the press at The Athletic:

Mateu Alemany considering Barcelona stay despite Villa offer.

Mateu Alemany is reconsidering his future at Barcelona putting a proposed move to Aston Villa in jeopardy.

Barcelona confirmed earlier this month that Alemany would leave the club on June 30 — a year before his contract was due to expire — to pursue a new “professional project”.

He was subsequently expected to join the Premier League in a senior football position and work alongside fellow Spaniard Unai Emery.

However, Barcelona club sources, speaking with anonymity to protect relationships, confirmed a meeting with president Joan Laporta took place on Wednesday in which Alemany reconsidered his position.

Despite receiving a lucrative offer from Villa and visiting the training ground last week, Alemany considers the current project in Barcelona as his project, and is open to fulfilling the remaining year of his contract at his current terms.

Alemany has been director of football at the Camp Nou since 2021 and has helped oversee transfers during a challenging financial period.

He previously held roles at Valencia, where he was general director, and Real Mallorca, where he was president and chief executive.

Damia Vidagany, the personal assistant of Villa head coach Emery, worked with Alemany at Valencia and they were set to be reunited as Villa looked to build on the progress made under the Spaniard since his arrival earlier this season.

He has lifted Villa from 14th to eighth in the Premier League table since taking over from Steven Gerrard in October.

Sporting director Jordi Cruyff confirmed he would be leaving Barcelona on Tuesday with former player Deco one of those in the frame to replace him.

[eamonn]

Fuck sake, we had dedicated 18 pages of threads to him (36 if you're Legion/Bullywee and prefer scolling to clicking) and, what...? He thinks "Fuck this, they're freeeeaks" and does a u-turn?

Think CDBullywee's on page 7. Not sure about Leeg.

Oh yeah, its the opposite innit.

[villadelph]

Seems like we were used as leverage so Cruyff would get pushed out. Reeks of typical Barca/Real scumbaggery.

[pauliewalnuts]

Seems like we were used as leverage so Cruyff would get pushed out.

Yeah, the timing re Cruyff does look suspicious.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Sporting director Jordi Cruyff confirmed he would be leaving Barcelona on Tuesday with former player Deco one of those in the frame to replace him.

Exactly what Vinnie wrote last week regarding Deco except he was to replace Alemany not Cruyff.

EDIT: Alemany is currently Director of Football, Cruyff Sporting Director. Barca have numerous sports teams apart from football, was that Cruyff's remit with Alemany on football. I'd assume Deco was more likely to stick with football than go Sports Director?

EDIT II: It's widely reported down here Deco will be the new Sporting Director.

[Nev]

In cufflinks, in the boardroom.

[OCD]

Couldn't face having to find another club for Coutinho again.

[Stu]

Always had the feeling he was in two minds about it. Like he was going to be staying there until the end of June etc, which would be weird. Ah well, we move on.

[Dogtanian]

I did think it was odd that his departure had been announced but nothing seemed to be finalised, signed, or announced on our side.

Sod him then. Looked too much like that bloke in Casino Royale for me, who knows what side he's really on.

[Toronto Villa]

Oh well we move on. Disappointing but not a massive shock. Most of us hadn’t heard of him prior to being linked. And there are no doubt other top DOFs out there. I have full faith in Emery.

[villadelph]

I did think it was odd that his departure had been announced but nothing seemed to be finalised, signed, or announced on our side.

Sod him then. Looked too much like that bloke in Casino Royale for me, who knows what side he's really on.

Tend to agree.

We shouldn’t be all that surprised when someone labeled as a “master negotiator” swindles us to get an elevated position at a club he’s already under contract with. It’s still a scummy move, nonetheless.

[VinnieChase84]

Defo led down garden path on this one and timing of the Cruyff stuff seems a little odd.
Interested to see whats next as he wasnt choice 1. Choice 1 was Olabe from Sociedad

[Toronto Villa]

Why did he swindle us? He could have changed his mind for any number of reasons. Villa hadn’t officially announced anything. It was all reported through the media.

[villadelph]

Why did he swindle us? He could have changed his mind for any number of reasons. Villa hadn’t officially announced anything. It was all reported through the media.

Yeah, you’re right. He acted in good faith and just returned to Barcelona after they had announced his departure because a position opened up.

[pauliewalnuts]

If he doesn't want to come, I'd much rather we found out now than halfway through the season.