Carles Puyol Rejects Sporting Director Role at Barcelona

Carles Puyol has rejected the chance to become sporting director at Barcelona, the club he spent 15 years playing for. The former defender announced his decision on Twitter, stating that he would not be taking up an administrative role with the Catalan giants.

What happened?

Puyol was offered the role after Pep Segura resigned in July, but he has decided not to accept, citing personal projects that would prevent him from giving the position the dedication it deserves. The 41-year-old had previously worked as an assistant to ex-sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta before leaving the post in January 2015.

Why it matters for Carles Puyol

Puyol's rejection will come as a blow to Bartomeu, who had hoped the club's former captain would take the job, as reported by Sky Sports. Lionel Messi also expressed his desire to see Puyol in the role, in an interview with Sport earlier this year.

What comes next?

The search for a new sporting director will continue, with Eric Abidal currently serving as the director of football at the Camp Nou, and Patrick Kluivert as an academy director. Puyol spent his entire career at Barcelona, playing for the first team for 15 years, and winning six La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League three times. He is regarded as one of the best captains the club has had, and his experience would have been valuable in the sporting director role. The club's transfer policy has been under criticism, with vice-president Jordi Mestre walking away from his post in July, as reported by Mundo Deportivo. Puyol's decision was made after weighing up the offer, and he thanked the club for the trust they had placed in him. He will now continue to focus on his personal projects, rather than taking up a role with his former club. The news will be disappointing for Barcelona fans, who had hoped to see Puyol return to the club in an administrative capacity.