On Wednesday, Mateu Alemany unexpectedly met with Barcelona president Joan Laporta and told him that he was prepared to back down and stay at the club. Laporta took up the gauntlet and Alemany, who had an important offer from Premier League side Aston Villa, will continue to be the head of the club's sports area as director of football.
Xavi, in the press conference before the match against Real Sociedad, has shown his satisfaction with Alemany's decision: "Mateu has been very clear, he has told us that he wanted to be here, he has realised that Barça is a very big club and that he wanted to come back. It's fantastic news because he is a hard worker who has put a lot of order into this club."
The Barça coach also praised the figure of Jordi Cruyff, who this week announced that he would not be renewing his contract as sportin director, which ends on 30 June. "Jordi wanted other challenges, he has been a loyal, valid and totally trustworthy person," Xavi added.