Barcelona sporting director Mateu Alemany set to leave the club

Barcelona announced that sporting director Mateu Alemany will leave the club at the end of the current season to pursue a new professional project. 

Alemany replaced Ramon Planes as the Barcelona director of football following the emergence of Joan Laporta as club president and spearheaded a chain of operations that stabilised the club after it was declared "clinically dead" by Laporta, endearing himself to the Blaugrana faithful. 

The Catalan giants announced today via their official channels that Alemany has informed Laporta of his intentions to leave the role despite having a contract until 2024.  

However, he is expected to remain involved as Barcelona navigate through the coming summer transfer window.

The club says they will announce changes in their football executive structure once Alemany's departure has been finalised. 

Reports suggest that the former Mallorca president has received a mouthwatering offer from Aston Villa and is set to partner with Unai Emery to direct an ambitious Villa project. 

Barcelona, on the other hand, have been linked with another top sporting director, with Antonio Cordon, who left the role at Real Betis earlier in the season, spoken of as a possible replacement. 

Meanwhile, Barcelona continued their charge towards their first LaLiga title in three seasons with a victory over Osasuna.