Deco talks Xavi, Flick, Yamal, Raphinha, Gavi, Vitor Roque, Barcelona finances, transfer plans | OneFootball

Barcelona’s summer transfer window has not been nearly as active as some of the other clubs in Europe, possibly because of their exclusion from the FIFA Club World Cup.

There is, however, a movement that cannot be overlooked in some serious positions of interest including the goalkeeping and attacking departments.

Joan Garcia, for starters, is set to become the team’s first new signing of the summer while the club is also being linked with a plethora of wingers. The team behind all the developments, needless to say, is being spearheaded by Deco.

Speaking to GE Globo in an extensive interview, Barcelona’s sporting director Deco opened up on a number of transfer-related talks concerning the present, the past, and the future of the club.

On Vitor Roque’s failure

Of all the topics he addressed, the Vitor Roque context caught the attention of the media for he opened up in honesty about the player’s situation and how his arrival did not work out.

“For me, his arrival in January was a mistake, but we didn’t have many options. Xavi wanted it. The original plan was for him to come in the summer of 2024, and I think he was harmed by his early arrival, and this is where Barcelona’s demands come in,” he began.

“If you’re too preoccupied with what the press says, you can have problems. His first six months weren’t good, and I also think there was a shortcoming on the part of the staff and the club in identifying the problems he was facing,” he elaborated on the topic.

“We weren’t able to help him in that regard,” he concluded, admitting the club was also to blame for his failure.

Roque’s signing proved to be a failure. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Elaborating on the role Xavi Hernandez had in deciding the time of Roque’s arrival, Deco said,

“Coaches are always consulted on signings. The decision to bring him in in January was made by Xavi, and the decision was to extend the adaptation process by six months.”

“Ultimately, this is the nature of football. Going to Europe early is always difficult, especially if it’s to Barcelona or Real Madrid,” he added.

On Xavi’s sacking and Flick’s appointment

The sporting director then went on to speak on Xavi Hernandez’s departure and how it ended up being the roller coaster of events that it eventually did.

“When Xavi announced his departure, he surprised everyone. He later changed his mind and decided to stay, and the club was hesitant about making the decision,” he began.

“Changing a coach may seem simple to those outside the club, but it’s always complicated, especially when the coach is a club legend. However, we felt the team needed a coach with different qualities,” he added.

Speaking on how Hansi Flick was seen as the ideal candidate by the board and the new coach’s first season at the club, Deco expressed positivity and great excitement.

“Flick was the coach we wanted, a coach with great management skills. Things went well and we’re very happy. The performance was as we expected.”

“Last season, we reached the Champions League quarter-finals and felt we could have gone further. In the league, we were eliminated early, but this season the idea was to compete for every title until the end, and that’s exactly what happened,” he added.

Deco played a key role in Hansi Flick’s appointment. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

The interview then tilted towards Barcelona’s transfer plans and the positions they currently saw to be in need of signings.

“We believe we have a good balance, both in defence and in midfield. There are players who are still growing and developing, such as Gavi, who has returned from injury and will be much better next season after a good pre-season.”

“We have Marc Bernal who was injured at the beginning of the season, as well as Ronald Araujo and Dani Olmo, and we are working to ensure that they do not get injured again,” he added.

Speaking on the forward department, which is where the club are being extensively linked with wingers, Deco added,

“As for the attack, it will depend on what we can do in the market, but it may be the only line that we see as needing one or two players.”

On Barcelona’s finances

The director then spoke on the club’s economic situation and how the club have been bold and calculated with all their moves.

“Barcelona was going through a major financial crisis at the beginning of Laporta’s tenure. The club was spending more than it earned, and this must be eliminated over time.”

“Amidst this situation, the president made the bold decision to completely renovate the Camp Nou stadium. We went from a stadium with a capacity of 90,000 spectators to one with only 50,000, which meant a significant drop in revenue.”

He then provided a positive update on how they have managed to negate most of the losses and fix the club’s finances.

“But today, the club has signed one of its biggest contracts with Nike, and we will return to playing at Camp Nou with a capacity of 65,000 spectators, and then, approximately a year later, at full capacity.”

“The rebuilding process is ongoing, and today there is no longer a financial problem. We only have a problem with the Financial Fair Play rules due to the strict restrictions imposed on us,” he added.

Lamine Yamal’s renewal

Towards the end of his interview, Deco spoke on Lamine Yamal and the impact the youngster has had on the sport worldwide.

“Lamine is the kind of player who appears once every few years and captivates everyone. He not only possesses skill but also great maturity for his age.”

The new face of Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

“He also possesses this charm, not only through his performance on the pitch but also because, perhaps because of his age, he resonates so well with young fans.”

“This makes him a player who not only impresses those who watch him play, but who also creates a story of his own,” he added.

Speaking on how it was dealing with the renewals of such young stars who played out of their skin, the sporting director said,

“It doesn’t matter if he’s 17, 27, or 30. We must show the same respect to everyone. A player renews his contract and is valued based on what he offers the club.”

“It doesn’t matter if he’s 17 or 18. What matters is his performance. After that, it’s only natural that we monitor how he handles all of this.”

“I think his management of the situation is excellent, and he has shown that he has the mental capacity to deal with this stage. I hope and believe that he is ready for this challenge,” he concluded.

On Raphinha’s growth

Finally, he gave his two cents on Raphinha’s stellar season and how his transfer paid off with great dividends.

“Raphinha had an excellent season in England and there were many clubs interested in signing him, such as Arsenal and Chelsea.”

“At the time, Barcelona was experiencing financial difficulties, but I knew that Rafinha’s dream was to play for Barcelona. Coach Xavi wanted him, and so did the president,” he added.

Elaborating on the story of his transfer, he said,

“I knew the situation was complicated because Barcelona might not be able to pay what Leeds were asking for, so my responsibility as an agent was to help fulfil the player’s wish and in the end, things worked out well and we succeeded in the deal.”

Deco even admitted to the influence Flick has had on Raphinha that has made him one of the best in the world in his position.

“Any coach can have a positive impact on a player’s career, especially in terms of trust and appreciation.”

“Raphinha felt more confident than Flick, and this helped him psychologically and was reflected in his performance on the field. We are not surprised by his great season because we know the level of quality he possesses.”