FC Barcelona's sporting director, Deco, is being credited as the great architect of the club's success. And while Hansi Flick has been doing an excellent job leading the club to four consecutive victories, the German coach would not be in Barcelona if it were not for the work that the Portuguese has done.
Despite the fact that almost everything has been against him, especially the club's difficult financial situation, Deco has shown strength and resilience when carrying out the most complex negotiations. He was able to say goodbye to players like Mika Faye and Vitor Roque, while he took on, and fully accomplished, the difficult mission of getting Dani Olmo out of RB Leipzig so that he could wear the Blaugrana shirt again.
That is why, despite the rumours in the Spanish press about a possible exit, the club's president, Joan Laporta, has no doubts about his continuity. However, the manager wants to see his sporting director happy and appreciated, so he has been making sure to show him, in public and private, all the gratitude he feels towards him.
Flick and Laporta praise Deco
Before the president himself, it was Hansi Flick who recognised the work that the sporting manager has been doing. The two get along very well and there is a great understanding between them, which has benefited the team's planning. After the 7-0 thrashing of Valladolid, the German coach attributed part of the success to the Portuguese: "I have to thank Deco, he has hired many experts who are doing a wonderful job."
Laporta was not left behind and in his last press conference he commented: "I am very happy with the work of Deco and his team. Thanks to him, Flick is here as coach. He has also signed important renewals, especially for the youngsters. Other merits of his are the work of shaping the squad, which he has done together with the coach, and the restructuring of the sporting area. He is responsible for the two signings: Pau Víctor and Dani Olmo. Deco and his team have also done a great job with the issue of registrations this summer. The work has been extraordinary."
Private praise
Although he knows that a public declaration of support is something that carries a lot of weight in football at the moment, Laporta has also privately conveyed his gratitude to him for everything he has achieved at the club in such a short time. It was the manager who believed in Deco and brought him to Barcelona in August 2023. Although it has not been an easy road, both understand each other well and everything seems to indicate that the Portuguese will honour his contract, which ends in 2026.
Let's remember that the Blaugrana president has had the loss of important pieces of the culé scheme such as Mateu Alemany and Jordi Cruyff, so he does not want to restructure the sporting area again. So that is why he has taken on the task of ensuring that Deco is as comfortable and happy as possible with the work he is doing. Without a doubt, he has made the message very clear, so we will see how events develop in the coming months.