Deco attended Porto vs Manchester United to possibly scout two players for Barcelona | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are always on the hunt to find talents that they believe can fit in their team. However, these hunts have been rather limited in recent seasons due to the club’s financial limitations. Even then, Barcelona has not been stopped from making inquiries and scouting players they believe to be good options.

Typically, scouts are sent to various places to keep an eye out for players that may be of interest. However, on some rare occasions, even the higher-ups of the club can end up attending certain occasions or games to keep an eye on specific players.

At Barcelona, the same who is ultimately at the head of making most sporting decisions is Deco. Now the Sporting Director of the club, his role is one that allows him to make huge decisions at the club in terms of the kind of players that are brought in and he is expected to keep a keen eye out for such players.

His latest trip seems to have taken him all the way to Portugal, where he was in attendance for the game between FC Porto and Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League group phase. However, that particular attendance may have been about something beyond just the spectacle of the game.

According to Miguel Rico (h/t Barca Centre), the Barcelona Director may have been in attendance to possibly scout two players for the Catalan club. One of those players is someone that the club is already all too familiar with, while the other could be a more long-term target.

The first of the two players that Deco may have been keeping an eye out for could be Nico Gonzalez. Aged 22, the Spanish midfielder has gained a lot of prominence at FC Porto this season and it was even previously reported that Barcelona could consider bringing him in as a midfield recruit.

Interestingly, he was formerly a player from La Masia and even featured for the Barcelona first team under Xavi Hernandez. While he may not have been a nailed-on starter, he had his moments to shine for the club. Now, having been sold to Porto, Nico has a buy-back clause that Barcelona could activate for €30 million.

The other possible name that Deco could have been keeping an eye out for may have been Diogo Costa. A goalkeeper for both Porto and the Portuguese National team, the 25-year-old shot-stopper is a player who is highly rated for his performances in recent seasons.

While he may not be an immediate signing for Barcelona if they even plan on bringing him in, he could be an option for the summer of 2025. That is because Wojciech Szczesny’s stay at the club will only last till then and Inaki Pena is not necessarily a player who provides the club a lot of confidence.

Moreover, with Marc-Andre Ter Stegen having just undergone surgery for a long-term injury, there is no telling when he ends up fully recovering or if he will even be able to play at the same level. Due to these reasons, Costa may be a name that Deco is keeping a keen eye on for Barcelona.