Taking over from Mateu Alemany as sporting director of FC Barcelona this summer, Deco had the opportunity to launch the first movements this summer. However, the former FC Porto and FC Barcelona midfielder will have more protagonism now that he is fully installed in this role. In an interview for Sport, he returned directly to the Blaugrana project and notably reinforced Xavi in his role as architect. He also took the opportunity to discuss hot issues and to begin with, he announced the color: there will be no extension in the short term.
“This year we are not going to do any renewals. We don’t talk about it. We approach the agents calmly, without rushing, because we know that there are players who have this season and one or two more and at that time I will talk to the agents. Both parties must be happy and we will see in the future” said the former Portuguese international. Arriving at the end of their lease this summer, Marcos Alonso and Sergi Roberto should therefore see their future be discussed only at the end of the season. The question will also arise with João Cancelo and João Félix. Loaned respectively by Manchester City and Atlético de Madrid, they are proving valuable for the Catalan club.
Deco has confidence in De Jong, Cancelo and Félix
Deco is in favor of keeping them, but a season is long and he does not want to get ahead of the outcome of these files: “it’s still November, it’s early. But of course, we are already thinking about it. We see how the season goes. There is no doubt that we want to have them next season, because they are valuable for the team. We are satisfied with their performance. How ? We’ll see, these are discussions for later.” Another player he would like to keep and extend is Frenkie de Jong. However, he has a big salary and his contract runs until June 2026.
Deco once again opts for the patience card while confirming his confidence in the Dutchman: “Frenkie is a great player, I like him. There are others in a similar situation, like Pedri, Raphinha, Ferran… they are players who have a contract and we will try to improve little by little. It will depend on him and also on the situation of the club, as well as the other players. Of course, De Jong is a great player and we would like to have good players.
The site of the attack
This winter Vitor Roque arrives, this summer Robert Lewandowski will be one year from the end of his contract and Ansu Fati will return from a loan to Brighton. On the latter, Deco appreciates his gradual return to form in England: “Ansu can come back, of course. He is very young and he is happy now. He asked to go out on loan for a few minutes and chose Brighton and I think he did well. I’ll go see him soon. The future depends on him. He can return to Barça, there is no doubt. Another solution for the future, Vitor Roque really pleases the Catalan leader: “we all want him to come as soon as possible. From the start, it was said that he would only come from January, because that was the condition set by Athletico Paranaense.
“We do everything, we know the LaLiga regulations, there have been some changes that can help us, and if that happens we also have responsibilities to LaLiga to respect some outstanding things.” he continued. Now aged 35 and under contract until the summer of 2027, Robert Lewandowski has 41 goals in 60 matches with the Blaugrana. Top scorer in La Liga last season, he is closely followed in Saudi Arabia, but gives his preference to the Catalan club. If Deco is not yet talking about an extension, he maintained his confidence in the Polish striker: “Lewandowski has a contract and we are very happy with him. He’s one of the leaders of the team.”