Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has confirmed that Mateu Alemany is no longer set to join the club and will instead remain at Barcelona.
Speculation was rife earlier this month that Alemany was set to be appointed in a key role at the club, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that an agreement in principle had been reached, albeit no contract had been signed at that time, while the Catalan giants released a statement confirming his departure.
READ MORE: Emery confirms injured Villa ace to miss remaining two games
However, reports this week have suggested that Alemany had performed a U-turn and would remain in Spain instead, and Emery has confirmed that is indeed the case, as he offered insight into talks between the two parties and that they remain on good terms despite an appointment not coming to fruition.
“It was two weeks ago we were speaking about the possibility for him to come here, it was positive and, in the end, he’s not coming,” he told reporters, as per VillaTV. “We will continue in our project and build up as a club and a team. He is a very good professional with experience. I know him, I sometimes meet with him. But we’re very focused here with the project we have in front. We will try to analyse someone to help us. But now, Mateu Alemany will stay in Barcelona.
“He is in Barcelona and he will continue there. What is the reason? I think Barcelona is a very good team. We were speaking about the possibility but he decided to continue in Barcelona. He’s very respectful with us and, with his decision, we are respectful as well.”
It will be interesting to see who Villa now turn their attention to if they still wish to make an important change to the structure at the club, with Alemany touted to be given a key directorial role had he arrived.
Villa confirmed the appointment of Chris Heck as the V Sports Group’s new President of Business Operations this week in an exciting move that will have a positive impact on our progression off the pitch, but it’s important to bring in the right candidate on the sporting side too in order to provide Emery with support moving forward in assembling his squad.
Time will tell if that is ultimately left with Johan Lange and the Spaniard, but with Alemany now no longer an option, Villa may well return to a name that had previously been linked us in recent months or perhaps even set their sights on a new target if deemed to be the ideal fit for the job.