Deco analyzes Barcelona's summer market: signings, renewals and 'dig' at Athletic
Published New:30/09/2025 - 01:25h
Updated New:30/09/2025 - 04:39h
Deco broke down Barça's latest summer market. The Azulgrana sporting director is optimistic about Frenkie de Jong's future and values the work done in terms of reinforcements and renewals
Anderson Luis de Souza, Deco, analyzed the work of FC Barcelona in the last transfer market, as well as the pending folders in the medium and long term. The club still has to resolve the renewals of four players whose contracts expire in 2026, with Frenkie de Jong being the main priority. The Dutchman broke up with his agent, but still has personal issues to resolve.
"Frenkie is really enjoying being here (...). At the club we see him as a fundamental player for the current project and the coming years, so I think we will get it done soon (his new contract)," explained the sporting director of Barça in an interview for 'Mundo Deportivo'.
In that sense, Deco was honest about the movements made in the summer, with special attention to the signings of Joan García and Marcus Rashford. Regarding the goalkeeper, he ruled out a controversy with Ter Stegen, whom he sees as captain and reference of the team despite rumors about his departure.
Deco reveals Barcelona's reasons for going for Joan García and Rashford
According to the Azulgrana executive, Marc-André's injuries led the club to look for alternatives for a position where the only option available was Iñaki Peña. "We were lucky, first, to find Szczesny, who has been wonderful for us," began the former Portuguese international.
In turn, he added regarding the one from Sallent: "We knew Joan, but he has been standing out and confirming what we already knew at the 'scouting' level. We wanted to sign him because we needed the goal at the present and future level." However, he reiterated his respect for Ter Stegen, who he considers would continue to be undisputed if it were not for the injuries.
"It's a matter of planning, of not being left with a problem for the future. Then who decides who is going to play is the coach"
On the other hand, regarding Marcus, Deco ruled out having a plan 'A', 'B' and 'C' that involved the Englishman, Luis Díaz and Nico Williams. For Deco, each player offered different skills and, finally, Manchester United agreed to negotiate a functional path for Barça.
"The Rashford thing was also complicated at the beginning, but it was made a little easier because United was more open to a loan and that gave us more room. We are very happy with him, we will see if we pay his clause or not. It is still very early," he said about the '14'.
Similarly, he declined to reveal the exact amount that Barcelona must pay for 'Rashy'. What he did make clear is that his loan is simple and does not include a penalty in the summer of 2026 if the club decides not to buy the 27-year-old winger.
Satisfaction with the summer market and 'dig' at Athletic for Nico Williams
Likewise, Deco boasted about Barcelona's financial management in the last summer market. The Azulgrana sporting director values the renewals of figures such as Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Jules Koundé, as well as the continuous communication with Hansi Flick to keep the base of the squad intact and even improve it compared to the previous year.
"In general we have done everything that we more or less talked about with the coach. The only unforeseen event was Iñigo," he pointed out. On the subject of financial 'Fair Play', the Azulgrana sporting director understands that most LaLiga clubs have problems with the regulations, but that does not mean that Barça has economic problems to reinforce themselves.
"Not signing does not mean not doing anything; we have renewed Pedri, Gavi, Raphinha... We also incorporate top-level people in various departments and that has made the players also improve"
Finally, regarding the summer market, Deco explained how the negotiation with Nico Williams and his controversial renewal with Athletic took place. According to the Azulgrana executive, the player's agent offered him to Barça, but the negotiations failed because the conditions demanded by the player did not fit the Azulgrana plans.
"Nothing failed. We simply set the club's conditions, then the negotiations have to be put on paper, in the contracts, and we said that we did not accept the conditions that were put to us because no player is going to condition us," said Deco, who also left a 'dig' at Athletic.
"I don't think Bilbao is an example for anything. They have to worry about the agent (of Nico), who has come to Barça several times to offer the player"
