Barcelona Could See Flick and Deco Departures Post-Presidential Election
Barcelona's management faces a significant challenge in the upcoming presidential elections, scheduled for next March, where the determination of the team's sporting structure is a pivotal issue. Víctor Font, Joan Laporta's main rival in these elections, has clearly revealed his intentions, despite the official election date not yet being announced.
Font confirmed that should he win the presidency, Deco would leave his position as the club's sporting director. In an interview with "RAC1" radio, Font stated: "Deco will not be my sporting director. We will create a structure that better suits Hansi Flick. We will not announce the name of the replacement currently because they are under contract, and there will be no individuals unrelated to the sporting structure."
This move is not surprising, as Font has leveled numerous criticisms against Deco over the years. Among these was the signing of Vitor Roque, for whom Barcelona paid 30 million euros, but the player failed to adapt to the Catalan team and was forced to leave on loan to Real Betis.
Font's criticisms also extended to the departure of Iñigo Martínez, who left the club last summer for Saudi Arabia without generating any transfer revenue. The presidential candidate could not comprehend how he was allowed to leave so easily, while the club justified it by citing a prior agreement with the player should he receive a similar offer.
These reasons, among others, underpin Víctor Font's decision, but Flick does not share this view. The German coach stated: "I am very happy with the current situation with Deco. We have mutual trust, and we believe in each other, which is extremely positive."
Flick added: "We are looking for the same players because we share the same philosophy, and we focus on what needs to be done. I have not experienced this before."
The presidential candidate affirmed his reliance on Flick, who has one year remaining on his contract with the Catalan club. However, it is not certain that the German coach will remain at Barcelona if Font wins the presidency. It is more likely that he would forgo his remaining year on the contract and leave the club, as Flick considers himself part of Laporta's project.
Flick has shown willingness to extend his contract if President Laporta is re-elected, and both parties have discussed this matter previously. Nevertheless, no steps in this direction will be taken before July 1.
July 1 is the date when Laporta would assume office if he wins the elections, after which his contract extension would be signed. Conversely, it is likely that the coach would not continue if another president takes charge.
Although preliminary talks would be held with him, the idea of foregoing his remaining year on the contract currently dominates his thoughts. This is despite Víctor Font having expressed his desire for Flick to stay, which is logical given the fans' high regard for the current coach.
