During recent key meetings bringing together only leaders, the absence of Mateu Alemany and Franc Carbó (currently at Al Ittihad) weighed heavily on relations with La Liga and the RFEF. Deco, the sports director, spent these days in Brazil.
One of the most striking images of the last few days, when the futures of Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor were at stake, was the total absence of executives during the club’s summit meetings with the legal services to discuss the extension recording of both players. President Joan Laporta was always accompanied by two of his faithful aides, Ferran Olivé and Rafa Yuste, who, it should be noted, recently withdrew from the public scene after being too present in the ‘Xavi’ affair. Joan Soler, the executive head of youth Football, also attended, maintaining a strong relationship with Enric Masip, one of the president’s most relevant advisors, alongside Alejandro Echevarría.
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Barcelona has become an executive orphan club in recent months. Beyond the departures of Jaume Giró and Ferran Reverter at the start of their mandate, followed by economic vice-president Eduard Romeu, and the resignation of many other leaders, the club finds itself without Mateu Alemany and Franc Carbó, who were essential in the relations with football authorities and in the drafting of contracts.
Alemany is currently without a club position but remains in the conversation for high-profile roles. During his time at Barca, he was a key figure as a bridge to La Liga and the RFEF. Franc Carbó, now at Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, where he arrived under the direction of Ramon Planes (former Barça sporting director), also played a crucial role in drafting player contracts as head of the Management Department Football at Barça. Internally, he was a much appreciated asset in the Barça offices. Both decided to leave, feeling uncomfortable with the reality of the club.
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Deco’s absence from recent meetings was also surprising. Barca’s sporting director spent his Christmas break in Brazil, where he was connected to the latest developments but, understandably, was unable to attend the meetings in person, despite his key role in the signing of Dani Olmo.
Deco was heavily involved in the player’s transfer from Terrassa, always ensuring that was his priority ahead of Nico Williams. He also announced that they were working to find a solution and that the situation at Barça was completely calm. Time proved him wrong and exposed a Barça ravaged by the absence of executives, which also lost Maribel Meléndez, the general director of the company, last February.
