Mateu Alemany (with added Alberto Benito and Pablo Rodriguez)

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We've got top owners and a top manager. Those are the main pieces of the jigsaw. We just go to the next one on the list.

From what Vinnie said about who was our first choice, Roberto Olabe, we're not messing around. Shame he'd just signed an extended contract just before we approached him. The man's a football club philosopher.

[john e]

I thought it was a massive statement at the time and a coup for the Villa
So this is a bit of a blow and I’m not going to pretend otherwise

[Brazilian Villain]

I thought it was a massive statement at the time and a coup for the Villa
So this is a bit of a blow and I’m not going to pretend otherwise

Yes, that's how I feel tbh.

[eamonn]

I thought it was a massive statement at the time and a coup for the Villa
So this is a bit of a blow and I’m not going to pretend otherwise

You hadn't been shooting your mouth off in the pub, bragging about it to Baggies or Dingles, had you?

[BC Villain]

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.

Bet stripey Gregg Evans couldn't wait to get that into print

[Beard82]

I thought it was a massive statement at the time and a coup for the Villa
So this is a bit of a blow and I’m not going to pretend otherwise

Yes, that's how I feel tbh.

Thats a little how I feel - though never heard of him, when you read into it, it seemed like a proper statement. 

[john e]

I thought it was a massive statement at the time and a coup for the Villa
So this is a bit of a blow and I’m not going to pretend otherwise

You hadn't been shooting your mouth off in the pub, bragging about it to Baggies or Dingles, had you?

Yeah
And now I’ve got to eat my sou’wester

[BC Villain]

Spanish press reporting he changed his mind due to our financial problems.

[PaulWinch again]

That would be a big blow.

[Richard E]

Spanish press reporting he changed his mind due to our financial problems.

‘Financial problems.’ Lol, yeah.

[Beard82]

I read that, surely it can't really be the case.  I never expected us to chuck 200m in this window, but surely the money is there.  Pretty sure Unai wouldn't come here without those assurances. 

[villadelph]

Spanish press reporting he changed his mind due to our financial problems.

The Spanish press were reporting that we were willing to spend hundreds of millions on Torres and Vlahovic last week.. they're just throwing shit at a wall to see if it sticks.

If we have financial problems, what does Barcelona have?

[dave.woodhall]

Spanish press reporting he changed his mind due to our financial problems.

Have they been looking at a Bristol City forum?

[Beard82]

I think we have been used in a negotiation.  Can't see we ever offered a blank cheque-book, or that it turned out that we're broke.

Think we we're used for MA to enhance his position at Barca. 

Again - not expecting us to be throwing money around - but cant see that you employee Unai and then not give him any of the tools to do the job.  Especially after backing SG. 

[BC Villain]

Spanish press reporting he changed his mind due to our financial problems.

Have they been looking at a Bristol City forum?

Or a stripey forum?  Perhaps they guaged the opinion of Paul Franks