Deco has already been sporting director at Barca for a month. In this connection, the Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo challenged the newly hatched sports director for an exciting interview on several different topics.
Read the interview below:
You chose to close your company in favor of a job at Barca, which is in a difficult period. How can it be?
‘The truth is I always go for challenges and at the end of the day it’s a bit because of the challenge of helping the club at an important time. For years I have worked with football, with players, with clubs and had freedom when it came to making decisions. But Barca is Barca and being here and helping the president with his project made me excited from the very first moment. My decision was because of the illusion of being able to help the club’.
How have your first 30 days in the office been?
‘It is always most hectic when the transfer window is open, and when it closes there are only a few days before the games start and the calm disappears. In a big club like Barca, everything is a task and we constantly try to evaluate the things that we have already done to see if we can do them better next time. Among other things, we have improved the relationship between the first and second teams considerably, and at the moment we are in a period where there is a lot of young talent on both teams. The worst thing about my first month is all the injuries, but it’s not something that we have much control over. Generally speaking, I think it has been a good first month’.
Is the squad big enough to last the whole season or is there a need to bring in other players for January besides Vitor Roque?
‘Financial Fair Play is something the press loves to talk about. We are aware of the expectations that La Liga has of us, just as they have of all other clubs, so we have nothing to complain about. Our focus is simply to be the best version of ourselves. We are aware of the challenges and I think it will be difficult to strengthen the team further in January. We always keep an eye on the market, but I don’t think anything new will happen’.
Xavi wants Vitor Roque in January – will it happen?
‘Vitor knows as well as I do that it’s not just about the club’s willingness to sign him. There are several aspects that we have to take into account and from the very beginning we made it clear to Athletico Paranaense that Vitor will leave until January at the earliest. That was one of their demands on us, so we have to see what can be done. He is a player in whom we believe enormously and who we have brought in with the future in mind. If he doesn’t come in January, he will certainly come in July’.
How is your collaboration with Xavi going?
‘There is no particular way. Xavi is the coach and in addition we have played together and today we are also friends who share the way of thinking about football. He is the coach and I will do my best at all times to fulfill my role, which is to make things easier for the coach. Xavi has courage, he has taken over the club at a difficult time, with players who have been given a huge responsibility despite their young age, but he handles it all very well. He has won the league and his ability to adapt has always been unique. Both on the field and now as a coach, and I do my best to help him’.
Someone thinks that the club did not complete the generational change in time – what do you think about that?
‘I understand why people are so busy talking about new players, but we can’t use people’s thoughts for very much. I think we have a strong squad that can fight for titles, but obviously it hurts us when four or five players are injured. We should not talk about new players, but focus on giving those we have attention and love, so that they can be calm about their future and happy to be here’.
Will Frenkie de Jong be extended soon?
‘I have sent a message to Frenkie’s agent, but just to introduce myself. We haven’t talked about an extension yet, but Frenkie is not the only player whose contract expires in 2026. However, he is a player that we would like to see here at the club for many years. In the same way we also feel with Pedri, Araújo, Gavi and Gündogan. Frenkie is the perfect age and he delivers football at a high level. That is why we want him to stay here for many more years’.
How to deal with Lamine Yamal’s previous breakthrough?
‘First of all, you shouldn’t compare him to others. Lamine is Lamine, Messi is Messi and Cruyff is Cruyff. What we can do is leave Lamine alone and let him play football
