Reason why Deco ruled out signing 25 G/A Serie A winger for Barcelona – report | OneFootball

According to a report from CuleMania, Barcelona sporting director Deco has ruled out the signing of Rafael Leao, despite the AC Milan star being one of the most tempting options on the market.

The reason? His off-the-field behaviour, which Deco believes could damage the current chemistry in the squad.

Barcelona’s summer transfer window has been nothing short of chaotic. The club had made Nico Williams their top target for the left wing, but after weeks of negotiations, the Spanish international chose to renew his contract with Athletic Club, effectively shutting the door on any move to Camp Nou.

This unexpected twist forced Barcelona back to square one.

Several options explored

Deco then explored other possibilities. One of them was Luis Diaz, who is keen to leave Liverpool. However, the €100 million price tag set by the Premier League side is too high for Barcelona at this stage of the market.

Although the Colombian winger would love to wear the Blaugrana shirt, the financial situation makes this move unrealistic.

Deco is not impressed with Leao. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The Marcus Rashford option is still on the table, but no decision has been made. His wages, combined with Manchester United’s asking price, have slowed down talks. Barcelona have yet to make a firm approach for the English forward.

Leao discarded despite on-field brilliance

In this context, Leao’s name naturally came up. The Portuguese international has been a consistent performer for AC Milan, registering double-digit goals and assists in four straight seasons.

His attacking ability is clear, and his agent, Jorge Mendes, maintains a close relationship with Barcelona’s board, making the deal seem within reach.

However, Deco has decided against it, not for football reasons, but because of Leao’s attitude and locker room behaviour.

The Barça sporting director is worried that bringing in Leao could upset the current harmony in the dressing room, which he believes is in a near-perfect state under Hansi Flick.