Atlético Madrid Appoint Former Barcelona Executive Mateu Alemany as New Sporting Director

Atlético Madrid have completed a significant strengthening of their sporting structure with the official appointment of Mateu Alemany as Director of Men’s Professional Football. The 62-year-old Balearic executive, who played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s recent success, joins the Rojiblancos on an 18-month contract, bringing decades of elite-level experience to the Wanda Metropolitano. The move represents a major statement of intent from Atlético as they seek to challenge Real Madrid and Barcelona for domestic supremacy while fortifying their leadership ahead of anticipated ownership changes.

Immediate Integration and Role Definition

Atlético Madrid wasted no time integrating their new director into the club’s operations. On Tuesday morning, Alemany visited the first team at the Majadahonda training complex alongside General Director of Football Carlos Bucero, to whom he will report.

The pair held meetings with legendary manager Diego Simeone and greeted players currently training in Madrid, signaling an immediate hands-on approach to his new responsibilities.

Alemany’s Organizational Structure at Atlético

Alemany will oversee all matters relating to the men’s first team, Atlético Madrileño (the B team), and the professional aspects of the academy. According to reports from transfer specialist Matteo Moretto, Alemany has been designated as “the main figure” in charge of Atlético’s first team operations. This means he will attend training sessions regularly, travel with the squad for matches, and handle all incoming and outgoing transfer business—responsibilities that previously fell under Andrea Berta’s purview before his January departure to Arsenal.

The Barcelona Legacy: Building Title-Winning Teams

Alemany’s reputation precedes him, particularly following his transformative tenure at Barcelona from March 2021 to September 2023. Despite inheriting a club in severe financial turmoil—one that couldn’t even afford to register Lionel Messi—Alemany managed to rebuild a competitive squad that delivered silverware and laid foundations for continued success.

Barcelona Achievements Under Alemany

During his time at Camp Nou, Barcelona won La Liga in 2022-23—their first league championship in four years—along with the Copa del Rey (2021) and Supercopa de España (2023). Perhaps more impressively, the squad he assembled continued delivering after his departure, with Hansi Flick’s team winning La Liga again in 2024-25 using the core players Alemany had recruited.

The Transformative 2022 Summer Window

Alemany’s defining moment at Barcelona came in the summer of 2022, when president Joan Laporta activated controversial “economic levers”—selling chunks of the club’s future media rights to generate immediate funds. Entrusted with approximately €150 million in spending power, Alemany executed one of the most ambitious transfer windows in Barcelona’s modern history.

Key Barcelona Signings (2022 Summer)

The headline signing was undoubtedly Robert Lewandowski, the prolific Polish striker who arrived from Bayern Munich for €50 million. Despite being 34 years old, Lewandowski immediately justified the investment by scoring 13 goals in the first half of the 2022-23 season, firing Barcelona to their eventual La Liga triumph. His presence transformed the attack and provided the clinical finishing Barcelona had lacked since Messi’s departure.

Raphinha arrived from Leeds United for €55 million as Barcelona’s most expensive signing under Alemany. While initially criticized, the Brazilian winger contributed seven goals and six assists in 31 La Liga appearances during the title-winning campaign, eventually silencing doubters with consistent performances.

Jules Koundé joined from Sevilla for approximately €50 million, bringing world-class defensive quality that had been proven in Spain. The French international became a cornerstone of Barcelona’s defense, which was on track to set records for fewest goals conceded.

Perhaps Alemany’s shrewdest business involved free transfers. Andreas Christensen arrived from Chelsea without a transfer fee and became arguably the signing of the summer—the Danish defender’s performances were nothing short of exceptional, playing a major role in Barcelona’s defensive solidity. Franck Kessié (AC Milan) and Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) provided valuable squad depth, also arriving on free transfers.

Financial Acumen: Maximizing Resources

What distinguished Alemany’s Barcelona tenure was his ability to operate under extreme financial constraints while still building competitive squads. Beyond the marquee signings, he demonstrated remarkable skill in squad management and financial creativity.

Key Financial Achievements:

• Trimmed Barcelona’s bloated wage bill systematically
• Offloaded expensive deadwood including Philippe Coutinho and Samuel Umtiti
• Generated profits on short-term additions (e.g., Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sold to Chelsea for €12m after six months as a free agent)
• Secured talented players on free transfers to maximize budget
• Managed La Liga’s salary cap constraints while registering new players

His departure from Barcelona in September 2023 came following tensions with new sporting director Deco, who had been brought in to work alongside Alemany. Rather than creating a power-sharing arrangement, the conflicting visions led to Alemany’s exit, though his legacy remained evident in the squad’s continued success.

Career Journey: From Mallorca to Madrid

Alemany’s path to Atlético Madrid reflects a career built on consistent success across multiple Spanish clubs. A qualified attorney by training, he entered football administration at Real Mallorca in 1990, ascending through various roles before becoming club president in September 2000.

Career Timeline

Under Alemany’s leadership, Mallorca reached the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1999 and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in club history that same year. The signing of Samuel Eto’o in 2000 proved particularly inspired—the Cameroonian striker led Los Bermellones to Copa del Rey glory in 2003, Mallorca’s greatest sporting achievement.

At Valencia (2017-2019), Alemany worked alongside manager Marcelino under the controversial ownership of Peter Lim. Despite challenging circumstances, Valencia achieved consecutive fourth-place finishes, securing Champions League qualification. His notable signings included Gonçalo Guedes for a club-record fee and Geoffrey Kondogbia on an initial loan with a €25 million purchase obligation. Ironically, he was sacked in 2019 shortly after Valencia defeated Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final.

What Alemany Brings to Atlético Madrid

Atlético’s decision to hire Alemany addresses a void that existed since Andrea Berta’s departure in January 2025. Berta had served as the club’s sporting director for years, overseeing transfers and squad planning before joining Arsenal. The position remained vacant for months as Atlético sought the right candidate to complement Carlos Bucero’s vision.

Alemany’s Core Strengths:

• Transfer Market Expertise: Proven ability to identify undervalued talent and negotiate complex deals
• Financial Management: Experience operating under severe budget constraints
• Squad Building: Track record of constructing balanced, competitive teams
• Relationship Management: Ability to work with strong-willed coaches and demanding presidents
• Spanish Football Knowledge: Decades of experience navigating La Liga’s unique challenges

The club had actually shown interest in hiring Alemany before Bucero’s appointment as general director of football in 2024, but circumstances didn’t align at that time. Now, with Bucero personally selecting Alemany to join his restructured front office, the two will collaborate on strengthening Atlético’s sporting project as the club prepares for potential ownership changes under new investors.

Immediate Challenges and Opportunities

Alemany inherits an Atlético Madrid squad in transition. Following a major summer overhaul that reshaped an aging roster, the team now features promising young talent alongside experienced stars. His first major test will come in the upcoming winter transfer window, where he must balance Simeone’s immediate needs with long-term squad building.

Key Areas of Focus:

1. Squad Assessment: Evaluating which players fit the long-term vision
2. January Window: Identifying potential reinforcements or departures
3. Summer Planning: Preparing for a crucial transfer period
4. Youth Integration: Developing pathways from Atlético Madrileño and the academy
5. Contract Negotiations: Managing renewals and preventing key player departures

The presence of Diego Simeone, who has managed Atlético since 2011, provides both opportunity and challenge. Simeone’s strong personality and clear tactical identity mean Alemany must identify players who fit the Argentine’s demanding system while gradually modernizing the squad profile.

Competitive Landscape: Challenging Barcelona and Real Madrid

Alemany’s appointment signals Atlético’s ambition to close the gap on Spain’s traditional powers. Barcelona, under Hansi Flick, are enjoying success with the squad Alemany largely assembled. Real Madrid continue setting standards as European champions. For Atlético to compete consistently at the highest level, they need the kind of shrewd recruitment and squad management that Alemany has repeatedly demonstrated.

His intimate knowledge of Barcelona’s operations—understanding their strengths, weaknesses, and transfer targets—could prove invaluable in direct competition. Similarly, his extensive La Liga network and understanding of Spanish football’s financial ecosystem position him perfectly to identify opportunities others might miss.

The challenge is significant but not unprecedented. Alemany has repeatedly taken on difficult assignments at clubs facing constraints—whether Mallorca’s limited resources, Valencia’s ownership turmoil, or Barcelona’s financial crisis—and delivered results. If he can replicate that success at Atlético Madrid, the Rojiblancos could emerge as consistent challengers for major honors.

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