Mateu Alemany and Barcelona's secret pact

Mateo Alemany, FC Barcelona's sporting director, has made a commitment to Joan Laporta, Barcelona's president, not to touch Xavi Hernandez's squad during the configuration of Aston Villa's next season.

Alemany has assured Joan Laporta that he would not sign anyone from Barcelona as a measure of respect for the club where he has been working and in which he is still linked as his contract ends on June 30. His commitment to Barcelona is until the end of the current season, even though his contract was until 2024.

Alemany will become the new sporting director of Aston Villa, the Midlands Premier League team, and the option of Alemany and Laporta sitting down to negotiate the departure of Ferran Torres, whom Barcelona has put on the transfer list, had been contemplated.

Ferran has a market in the Premier League after his spell at Manchester City, with Aston Villa even considering the possibility of signing Torres for a fee of 40 million euros.

Another player who was on the radar of Aston Villa was Ansu Fati, a player for whom Alemany does not seem to bet on too much.

So, Alemany will not go for either Ansu or Ferran.