Barcelona have confirmed that Mateu Alemany will leave the club in September.

Alemany has been very productive over the past two years, as he helped Barcelona clear out some deadwood from the team and sign top players to make the club competitive again.

In May, it was reported that Alemany was leaving Barcelona to join Aston Villa as their new head of recruitment, but the Spaniard would eventually stay back and help Barca in the transfer market before leaving.

Barcelona have released an official statement, thus: “This incorporation is in line with the statement released on 2 May in which the President and the director of the Football Area, Mateu Alemany, agreed his release from his duties once the current transfer window comes to an end on 2 September.

“As stated in the release Deco and Mateu Alemany will continue to work together until the closing of the transfer window.”

Barcelona have confirmed the appointment of Deco as the new sporting director.

A club statement reads: “FC Barcelona and Anderson Luis de Souza ‘Deco’ have reached an agreement regarding his joining the Club. 

“The first team player between 2004 and 2008 signs a contract as sporting director at the Club for the next three seasons. 

“Deco will be in charge of setting FC Barcelona’s sporting philosophy and putting together the squad with the coach and the coaching and becoming head of the football section.”