Barcelona sporting director Deco has shared detailed comments on the team’s current situation, transfer plans and the future of several key players.
According to İdman.Biz, the Portuguese executive spoke about the status of Joao Cancelo, the development of Raphinha, Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s situation and the club’s plans for the winter period.
Deco stated that Joao Cancelo may not be fully ready for the next match, as he has not played for a long time and needs time to regain match fitness. He emphasized that Cancelo’s arrival was the only realistic option to significantly strengthen the defensive line, noting that making transfers in January without improving the squad would have made little sense.
He added that Barcelona had wanted Cancelo from the start of the season, but financial fair play restrictions prevented the move. Now, however, his return is expected to considerably boost the defense, and with Cancelo in the squad there will be no need to use Eric Garcia as a full-back. Deco also revealed that the club wanted to sign Cancelo on a permanent basis, but could not compete with an offer from Saudi Arabia.
Speaking about Raphinha, Deco said the Brazilian has grown into a leader and has taken on more individual responsibility, especially since the arrival of Hansi Flick.
Regarding Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Deco confirmed interest from Girona but stressed that discussions must first take place with the club. He underlined that the German goalkeeper is under contract and remains a top-level player.
Deco also explained that the signing of Joan Garcia was made purely for sporting reasons. He described the goalkeeper as young and said the club needs a reliable option both for the present and the future, adding that Ter Stegen’s injury issues also influenced the decision. He expressed satisfaction with Garcia’s quick adaptation.
Finally, Deco noted that Robert Lewandowski’s future at the club will depend on the player’s own motivation, as Barcelona does not yet know his plans. He also described Ronald Araujo’s return to full fitness as one of the most important “winter transfers”, stressing that when at his best, Araujo is a key player for the team.
