Barcelona are undergoing a reshuffling of their football leadership and have announced the appointment of Deco as the sports director for the club.
Deco, who played for the Catalans between 2004 and 2008, has signed a three-year deal to head the sporting affairs of the club.
He will set Barcelona’s sporting philosophy and assemble the squad with the head coach. The club will release details of their new sporting structure soon.
Barca have announced the impending departure of Mateu Alemany as football director.
Alemany conveyed his decision to step down during a crucial meeting at Ciutat Esportiva, where he met with the club president Joan Laporta and sports vice president Rafa Yuste.
Deco and Alemany will work together until the close of the transfer window, before the latter leaves his position on September 2.
While the specifics of Alemany’s departure remain undisclosed, he will not pursue a role at any other club, a stark contrast to his previous brush with the idea of joining Aston Villa.
Alemany was on the cusp of joining the Premier League a few months ago.
However, he opted out of this opportunity, ultimately leading to the appointment of Monchi as Villa’s sporting director.
The transition in leadership at Barca was further highlighted by the potential arrival of Antonio Cordon, formerly of Real Betis, as Alemany’s successor.
However, it remains uncertain whether Barcelona is still considering Cordon for the role amidst these ongoing changes.
Alemany’s departure marks the end of an era that began in March 2021 when he assumed the position of football director after Laporta’s victory in the presidential elections.
Alongside Jordi Cruyff, Alemany played a pivotal role in steering the club’s football operations over the past two years.
