Olympique Marseille president Pablo Longoria has paid tribute to Barcelona sporting director Mateu Alemany.

The pair are good friends and Longoria says Alemany is the right man in charge of team building at Barca.

He told Efe: "Mateu is a genius, he is the smartest person in European football. We are seeing the latest results from Barcelona and I am very happy for him because he deserves it. Any club in which Mateu can work as a manager, and with the freedom to do everything he has in mind, will be at the top.

"He is a genius in management, in knowing how to read the small details, in making important decisions. Mateu is a person who has had all the prospects within a football club, including being the owner of Mallorca. Above all, I highlight his ability to adapt to each of the circumstances and in the direction and natural tendency that football takes."