Barcelona’s Director of Football Mateu Alemany is now set to stay at the club after reportedly changing his mind about leaving in the summer.
The Catalan giants were expected to install Deco as Alemany’s replacement on 1 July but according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the 60-year-old Spaniard will now continue in his current role and work alongside the former Barcelona and Portugal midfielder in a shock, unprecedented u-turn.
Mateu Alemany, now surprisingly set to stay at Barcelona — he’s changing his mind after official announcement of his departure. 🚨🔵🔴 #FCB
Alemany had an agreement in principle with Aston Villa but he never signed any document.
Barça, now expected to continue with Alemany. pic.twitter.com/Xx3Sih6Yyl
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 17, 2023
Premier League side Aston Villa miss out on new Director of Football
Alemany was supposed to move to Aston Villa when his contract at the Nou Camp expired and join Spanish compatriot Unai Emery at Villa Park as the Birmingham-based club looked to build on a superb second half of the season which has propelled them from hovering just above the relegation zone to eighth in the Premier League.
According to Romano, however, although Alemany agreed verbally to become their new Sporting Director, no contract has ever been signed. The situation will shock Villa, who were expected to have an adventurous summer transfer window, which included making bids for attackers Ferran Torres and Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic.
