Atletico hire 'financial lever' mastermind Alemany as director of football

Atletico Madrid appointed Mateu Alemany, who left Barcelona in 2023, as the club's new director of men's professional football on Tuesday.

"Alemany took up his new position this morning, visiting the first team... (and holding) a meeting with Diego Simeone," said Atletico in a statement.

Alemany, 62, helped Barcelona rebuild their squad and win La Liga in 2023 under president Joan Laporta before departing that summer.

The former Mallorca president oversaw Barcelona's policy of using "financial levers" to afford key signings like Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde in the summer of 2022.

Alemany, known as an excellent negotiator, helped to stabilise Barcelona's finances and reduce the club's wage bill in his time at the club after joining in 2021.

He will work under general director of football Carlos Bucero at Atletico, who also works with the B team and youth academy.

Atletico have started the season poorly, sitting fifth and trailing leaders Real Madrid by eight points, but they did beat their city rivals 5-2 in a derby clash on September 27.