Barcelona Sports Director Deco Souza Discusses Challenges in Today’s Transfer Market

Jakarta –

Barcelona Sports Director Deco Souza explained the differences in challenges his club faces in today’s transfer market compared to before. Apart from the club’s financial difficulties, there are now more and more rivals.

Barcelona’s economy is no longer as strong as it used to be. Debts that have accumulated due to previous management’s mismanagement, plus the COVID-19 pandemic, mean that the current management must be clever at saving so that the club does not collapse.

Last summer, Barcelona used a method of recruiting quality players at low prices or for free. For example, Inigo Martinez, Ilkay Guendogan, Oriol Romeu, or those on loan such as Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo.

This step was taken because they could no longer ‘pull the economic lever’ to obtain funds that could be used to bring in new players, as was done when bringing in Jules Kounde, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski in 2022.

Financial support has also changed the map of football power. Now more and more clubs have good bargaining power. There are even those who have dared to leave Barcelona.

Just look at the 18 year old young man from Sweden, Lucas Bergvall, who chose Tottenham Hotspur over the Blaugrana last January. This is an illustration of how times have changed.

“I really want to recruit Ronaldinho and (Samuel) Eto’o right now. Even Deco too. But players like them are no longer on the market. Times have changed, football has changed,” said Deco to La Vanguardia, quoted by Football Espana .

“Nowadays, it is impossible for me to sign a contract with Barca. I will not wait five seasons at Porto (before moving). Samuel, who plays for Mallorca, will not wait for Barca either. I will definitely get offers from many clubs, and Porto will charge a high price , making the situation even more difficult.”

“Today, a player who scores as many goals as Eto’o in just six months will immediately become a target for many clubs. When Barca entered the transfer market 20 years ago, his biggest rivals were Real Madrid, Manchester United and a few other clubs.”

“Now all the Premier League clubs have money to recruit players. Then there is PSG. Previously Manchester City was not as strong as it is now. Clubs today are better managed and players have many choices.”

“But Barcelona still has competitiveness, we can woo many players and we have the capacity to bring in important players,” said Deco.

(adp/rin)