Barcelona sporting director Alemany leaving at end of season

Barcelona introduced on Tuesday that director of soccer Mateu Alemany will go away the membership at the end of the season to embark on a brand new skilled venture.

Sources have instructed ESPN that Alemany is ready to affix Unai Emery at Premier League facet Aston Villa.

Barca mentioned they may “announce changes in the football executive structure” sooner or later, with sources including that sporting director Jordi Cruyff’s long run future can be unsure.

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Jesus Angoy and Antonio Cordon are amongst these being thought of as doable replacements, however nothing has been determined at this stage.

Barca confirmed the information following a 1-0 win over 10-man Osasuna, which moved them to inside two factors of the title with 5 video games to go after Real Madrid misplaced to Real Sociedad later within the day.

Alemany, 60, joined the membership in 2021 when Joan Laporta was elected president and oversaw a frantic switch window final summer time, when Barca bought membership property to fund the singings of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde, amongst others.

Working alongside Cruyff, the switch guru has obtained plaudits for placing collectively a squad which has Barca on the brink of a primary LaLiga title since 2019.

Barca mentioned he’ll go away the membership on June 30, making clear it’s his choice.

However, as his contract with Barca was speculated to run till 2024, the Blaugrana say Alemany is dedicated to finishing the upcoming switch window if obligatory.

“Alemany will end his time at the club on June 30 to begin a new professional project,” Barca mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday.

“Despite having a contract until 2024, Alemany has informed Laporta of his intention to take a new path in his career, but at the same time assuring that he will complete the summer transfer market with the club.

“Therefore, regardless of formally leaving the membership on July 1, because of a casual settlement, Alemany has dedicated himself to finishing the primary crew’s switch enterprise this summer time, even when it needs to be within the closing moments of the switch window.”

Alemany studied law before moving into football, working for his local LaLiga side Mallorca, first as the CEO and later as the club’s president.

He then moved to Valencia, where he was the director of football between 2017 and 2019, helping put together the squad that beat Barca to win the Copa del Rey in 2019.

After two years out of the game, he joined Barca in 2021 as part of Laporta’s backroom team following the latter’s election as the club’s president for a second time, having previously held the role between 2003 and 2010.

He has faced various financial hurdles while at Camp Nou, while also having to deal with the departure of Lionel Messi, but has found ways to strengthen the squad while working within LaLiga’s strict financial fair play regulations.

In Tuesday’s win over Osasuna — that saw Barca inch ever closer to clinching LaLiga — substitute Jordi Alba struck the only goal of the game in the 85th minute.

“It’s an essential step in direction of the title,” Xavi said in a news conference. “It is nearly carried out. It was essential to get six factors from these video games towards Real Betis and Osasuna and we now have carried out that.

“We suffered a bit too much tonight, mind. We missed too many clear chances. Osasuna defended well but, in the end, we got the goal through Jordi. It almost tastes better to win like this sometimes.”