Busy day for the sporting director of FC Barcelona, Deco. The Portuguese has met in Barcelona with different representatives to discuss various market-related issues.
Specifically, this Wednesday, the Portuguese executive held a meeting of around an hour and a half at the Joan Gamper Sports City with Fernando Solanas, a member of AC Talent, an agency that manages the interests of players such as Iñaki Peña and Héctor Fort, two youth players whose situation is expected to be resolved in this summer window.
Iñaki Peña and Héctor Fort: on the way out of Barcelona
It is worth remembering that both names are on the way out of the Barça team. In the case of the Alicante goalkeeper, everything seems to indicate that he will be renewed for one more season, and then a loan move to another team will be sought. Sources claim that the most likely destination would be Como 1907 of Cesc Fàbregas, although the interest of others such as Celta de Vigo is not ruled out either.
- 📌 THE FACT: Girona would also be interested in signing Iñaki Peña this summer.
As for Héctor Fort, the situation presents more unknowns. His departure gives the feeling of being inevitable this summer, although it is not yet clear whether it will be through a definitive transfer or a loan. The Barcelona full-back has aroused interest in several teams on the international scene, so the outcome of his case is still open.
CLUBS PRESUMABLY INTERESTED IN HÉCTOR FORT:
- Aston Villa
- RCD Mallorca
- Borussia Dortmund
Deco also met with Giuliano Bertolucci
Beyond the contacts with Solanas, according to SPORT, the Barça sporting director also took the opportunity to meet with Giuliano Bertolucci. The owner of Bertolucci Sports acts as a representative of players who at some point were rumored to be linked with the club, such as full-backs Caio Henrique and Vanderson, both currently at AS Monaco.
Although the exact content of the conversation was not disclosed, it is understood that Barcelona is going through a stage more focused on accelerating the departure operation than on making additions. The main objective continues to be to free up salary space in order to register Roony Bardghji, Wojciech Szczęsny and Gerard Martín. Under this premise, it seems complicated —but not impossible— that there has been talk about any signing.
Caio Henrique and Vanderson: low priority options at Can Barça
In the case of Vanderson, at the time he was linked as a possible reinforcement for the right-back, but today he does not give the impression of being an urgent need. Both Jules Koundé and Eric García are presented as stellar options to reinforce that position.
For his part, Caio Henrique, a left winger with the ability to act as a centre-back, is not a priority either. The Barça squad currently has Alejandro Balde as an undisputed starter at left-back, in addition to alternatives such as Gerard Martín and the promising youth player Jofre Torrents, who has been leaving very good sensations.
As things stand, the arrival of either of the two defenders does not seem too viable at this time. However, the presence of Bertolucci opens a debate: was it a formal offer of players such as Caio Henrique or Vanderson, or simply a meeting to catch up on the market? An unknown that will be resolved as the weeks go by.
The Portuguese also met with Frenkie de Jong's new agent
Likewise, it was announced that Deco had the opportunity to hold a summit with Frenkie de Jong's new agent, Sebastien Ledure. It is worth remembering that the breakup of the Dutchman with his lifelong agent, Ali Dursun, was recently made official.
Now, it will be the French lawyer who handles his affairs, so he appeared at the Joan Gamper Sports City to have a first contact with the Portuguese executive. Two parties that had never had direct contact.
In this meeting, sources assert that there was no negotiation of amounts or deadlines, but at least conversations are already open between both sectors. Will there be an agreement soon? Only time will tell.