In 2004, Deco landed at Barcelona with such enthusiasm that the then midfielder played the first 20 games with his new team tirelessly; all, the twenty, of owner. The work did not scare Deco then or now, who has two weeks ahead of him to finish outlining the squad so that Xavi Hernández’s Barça can fight for everything this season.
The new sports director, who signed for three courses on Wednesday, debuted his position with a visit to the locker room of the sports city. There, accompanied by President Laporta and Vice President Rafa Yuste, he was introduced to the footballers, whom he greeted. Deco, shirtsleeves rolled up, he knows he must get to work closing several folders before September 1, when the summer market rolls down. The former Portuguese international has full powers in the sporting area, but time is running out on him.
There are two players that Xavi doesn’t have and who are on the starting ramp. Both already had to leave on loan last season and they are still not included in the plans of the Terrassa coach, so you have to find an accommodation for them. The first is the American Sergiño Dest. The right-back barely had opportunities on loan at Milan and perhaps for this reason he welcomes returning this time to the Dutch Eredivisie, from where he came to Barça. Dest, 22, was formed at Ajax, but now it is PSV who have shown more interest in taking over his services with another loan.
For his part, Clément Lenglet is one of the highest players in the dressing room after the renewal signed by Josep Maria Bartomeu in October 2020. Logically, the club is interested in getting rid of that high salary taking into account that it is the sixth center-back in trainer preferences. At the beginning of the summer it seemed that Tottenham, where he played 35 games, was interested in acquiring him as property, but the operation has cooled down a lot. Also from the Saudi League they asked about the Frenchman, who at 28 years old refuses to take that step in his career for the moment.
Without departures, no salary margin is released, and Barcelona cannot register new contracts. Iñaki Peña, second goalkeeper, and Marcos Alonso could not travel to Getafe as they did not have a record. The third who has not yet been able to be registered is Iñigo Martínez. For the Basque central defender, who has arrived free from Athletic, it is also beginning to be urgent, since until now he was not available as he was recovering from plantar fasciitis, but yesterday he already exercised with the group. If there is no news in this regard, none of the three will be able to be on Sunday against Cádiz in the second day of the League.
However, Barcelona does not give up reinforcing itself in this final stretch to become competitive again with the greats of Europe. Deco has placed the reinforcement of a right back as a priority in sports planning. João Cancelo is the name that stands out on the list of candidates, but Manchester City insists that he will not go on loan and is looking for a sale, something that Barcelona cannot afford with its delicate economy. The youngster from Valladolid Iván Fresneda, with a great future, is the second option.
Meanwhile, Xavi continues to fight to incorporate an attacking footballer with a good game between the lines who can come at a cheap price. One idea is the Argentine Lo Celso, who belongs to Tottenham, but who performed very well at Betis and Villarreal. Without forgetting that the outcome of the soap opera between João Félix and Atlético can benefit Barça on the rebound, since the talented Portuguese goes out of his way to dress as a blaugrana.
