Four options Barcelona are considering as replacements for the exit-bound Mateu Alemany

Even as Barcelona fans celebrated their 1-0 win over CA Osasuna on Tuesday night, they were dealt with a piece of shock news soon after as the club officially confirmed that director of football, Mateu Alemany, will be leaving on June 30.

The 60-year-old is a well-liked figure among the fans thanks to some brilliant transfer operations he conducted over the last two years after joining Barcelona following Joan Laporta’s election as president.

But, due to multiple factors, one of which is understood to be the disagreement about the return of Lionel Messi, Alemany will be leaving Barça at the end of the season, even though he will continue helping the club in an unofficial capacity during the summer window.

And, with such a crucial position being vacated right before the summer, Barcelona have already begun their search for a new director of football who can step into Alemany’s shoes.

And, according to Tomas Andreu of SPORT, Barcelona are looking at former Real Betis and AS Monaco director Antonio Cordon as a serious contender.

Cordon’s name has been linked with Barça for some time now, after he decided to leave Real Betis earlier this year. His past association with the Catalans’ sports director Jordi Cruyff has only added weight to the idea of his appointment.

However, the 59-year-old is not the only option on the table at Barça. As per the same report from SPORT, another candidate who is being looked at is Tito Blanco.

A former Barcelona B player, Blanco is currently the academy director for the RFEF and has previously worked at clubs like Levante, Alaves, and Real Oviedo. The report claims that the 51-year-old is an option that is liked by Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez.

Meanwhile, Samuel Marsden and Moi Llorens of ESPN are reporting that former Barcelona goalkeeper Jesus Angoy is also a name on the table to take over Alemany’s duties. Angoy, 59, is the son-in-law of the legendary Johan Cruyff and went on to play nine matches for Barça during his spell at the club.

Beyond these three names, another option that Barcelona seem to be considering, according to Ivan San Antonio of SPORT, is handing the role to Jordi Cruyff himself, making him both the sports director and the director of football at the club.

The Dutchman’s current contract with Barça expires in June and he is said to be evaluating his future after Alemany’s exit was confirmed. The board is said to be very happy with his work and are understood to have offered a renewal before Alemany’s decision.

The idea of the club is to renew Cruyff’s contract and have him don the dual role of sports director and director of football, while bringing in another person to support him.