In the absence of officiality, and using slight euphemisms, it can be said that Mateu Alemany, Laporta's right-hand man, has not been able to successfully complete his first job as Barça football director. The captains pay cut was a sentimental matter, but, executive, has not released Umtiti or Coutinho. And Pjanic's, which seems on track, is not resolved either. And if it is closed, it will be given away.
In case of Umtiti It is abracadabrante. Barça took refuge unofficially yesterday in two arguments. First, blamed Bartomeu for his famous and reckless contract extension. Second, and more surprising, he caught off the record that the player has struck a chord with Laporta. Umtiti has told the new president that he has suffered a lot these months. In the Barça dressing room that is never going to be received well. Umtiti, world champion and veteran player, jumped into the alley last summer. Before Lisbon, and after leaving a terrible image in a League match (Vigo), he said that he did not think to play anymore. And did not do it. Laporta has bought his story of suffering, but in the booth he will have to show something else to be credible. For now, and as Mateu Alemany found little more than an offer to Olympique de Marseille in which Barça has some friends, Umtiti remains in what represents a tremendous failure of the club. The representative of Samuel Umtiti is Arturo Canales, who maintains good business with one of the four captains of the club who has lowered the card, Gerard Piqué.
The second serious case is that of Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian, who has just recovered from his injury, has been protected by Ronald Koeman, which has announced that it has him although, obviously, Barça did not want to Coutinho. But Alemany has not found a destination for him. They are his two great failures. There could be a third, but it would be too much. Pjanic has his poster in Italy and Barça will give it away with a loan.