Barcelona sporting director Deco has given an honest insight into the club’s transfer activity, contract renewals, and ongoing financial fair play restrictions.
Speaking with Mundo Deportivo, Deco reflected on what has been another summer filled with difficult decisions and tough negotiations.
Just like last summer, Barcelona faced limits when signing new players because of financial fair play. Deco, however, made it clear that this is not an issue unique to the Catalonia club.
“This is something that affects all clubs, not just us. The clubs voted for these regulations, so once they are approved, they can’t complain.
“Three years ago, Barça signed Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Kounde. Not signing players doesn’t mean doing nothing. We’ve renewed Pedri, Gavi, and Raphinha.”
Deco also added that the team’s progress under the leadership of Hansi Flick cannot be doubted.
Barcelona players during a training session. (Photo By Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images)
“Barça is back where it belongs, competing for titles, with players being recognised with individual awards as a result of the collective effort.
“The only thing is that perhaps this whole issue of ‘fair play’ confuses people from the outside, and they ask me, ‘But doesn’t Barça have problems?’.
“No, Barça doesn’t have problems. It has ‘fair play’ problems, but that’s not important.”
Deco also cleared the air around transfers involving Marcus Rashford, Luis Diaz, and Nico Williams. He explained that Rashford’s loan is straightforward, with no hidden penalties.
“He’s on a simple loan, there’s no penalty, and if we want him, we have an option to buy. What we thought he could bring to us, he’s bringing.”
On Diaz, Deco admitted it was impossible from the start because Liverpool were posing a strong opposition.
“With Diaz, Liverpool were pretty tough from the first minute, refusing to sell him, and it’s even more complicated that way, like if they came to us and we didn’t want to put a player on the market.
“Luis’ move ended up being impossible. Rashford’s move was also complicated at first, but it became a little easier because United were more open to a loan, and that gave us more leeway.”
Lastly, he also revealed that Nico Williams was discussed, but did not materialise. “There was no failure.
“We simply set the club’s conditions, then the negotiations had to be put on paper, in contracts, and we said that we did not accept the conditions they were imposing on us because no player is going to dictate terms to us, and in the end, nothing happened.
“We gave them a deadline to respond, they did not respond, they went their way and we went ours,” he concluded.
