Barcelona transfer chief Mateu Alemany will leave the club at the end of the season amid talk of a huge offer from Aston Villa.
Multiple reports in Spain indicated Alemany, 60, had been offered a large salary increase to move to Villa Park and work alongside boss Unai Emery.
According to Spanish sources, Barcelona knew they could not match the terms on offer from Villa for their director of football.
A statement from the LaLiga leaders read: 'FC Barcelona Director of Football, Mateu Alemany, will end his time at the club on the 30th of June to begin a new professional project.