Former Valencia director Miguel Zorio is convinced Mateu Alemany was forced out of Barcelona.

The sporting director will leave Barca at the end of the summer market.

Zorio told Sport: "The dismissal, dressed as dismissal, of Mateu Alemany means the second time that Jorge Mendes cut off the head of this executive who rebuilt our club and was doing so with Barça. Now, everything will be much easier for (Joan) Laporta and Mendes, both very close to Peter Lim.

"Mendes has been able to earn 20 million euros with all the players that he has brought to the Blaugrana squad from Valencia. The Valencia-Barcelona airlift has been restored with the departure of Mateu Alemany.

"Deco was sponsored by Mendes and later worked for him at Gestifue. He is going to be the new Corona - Valencia sports director - of Barça."