Outgoing Sporting Director Alemany And FC Barcelona President Laporta Reportedly Clashed On Messi Return

FC Barcelona’s outgoing sporting director Mateu Alemany and president Joan Laporta clashed on Lionel Messi’s potential return to the club, according to various sources, which could have been a factor in Alemany deciding to leave his post on June 30.

Barely an hour after Barca beat Osasuna 1-0 at Camp Nou to take a 14-point lead at the La Liga summit, the Catalans dropped a bombshell announcement revealing that Alemany would be stepping down on the mentioned date.

This immediately led fans to believe that transfer market expert Alemany would abandon Barca high and dry when they need him most, yet an official statement thankfully cleaned things up and specified that this will not be the case.

“Despite having a contract until 2024, Mateu Alemany has informed the FC Barcelona president, Joan 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,” the statement read, in what will be a comfort to Culers worldwide.

“Therefore, despite formally leaving the Club on 1 July, thanks to an informal agreement, Mateu Alemany has committed himself to completing the first team’s transfer business this summer, even if it should be at the final moments of the transfer window.”

With Alemany tipped to be joining Aston Villa by Fabrizio Romano, ESPN reported how sources explained the future of sporting director Jordi Cruyff at Camp Nou is also uncertain.

Jesus Angoy and Antonio Cordon are being considered as replacements, but they would have to agree with Barca’s approach for soon-to-be free agent Lionel Messi where Alemany reportedly didn’t.

Alemany also didn’t see eye-to-eye with Laporta on other issues according to Relevo reporter Toni Juanmarti and Cope‘s Helena Condis.

Juanmarti reported that Alemany “didn’t clearly agree with the idea of bringing back Messi” which was later confirmed by Condis. She added that Alemany had trouble seeing how next season can be effectively planned with such a small salary margin.

Barca have been warned to shave €200 million ($218 million) from the wage bill by La Liga president Javier Tebas, and have had to draw up a viability plan to prove they can make Messi’s return and three other signings happen this summer.

Furthermore, various journalists reported that Alemany didn’t agree with contract renewals for aging veterans Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who scored the winner against Osasuna.

Now it remains to be seen how Barca will press ahead with luring Messi back, and also handing out contract renewals to his closest friends at the club with Alemany effectively working for two employers at the same time until the transfer window closes.