Deco Confirms Preliminary Talks for João Pedro and Julián Álvarez at Barcelona

Deco, the Portuguese sporting director of Spanish club Barcelona, has confirmed that the Catalan club has initiated early discussions with representatives of several players as a precursor to strengthening the squad for the 2025-2026 season. Deco clarified that these steps are part of an initial exploratory phase aimed at evaluating available options to bolster the team led by German coach Hansi Flick, without engaging in formal negotiations with the players' current clubs.

The sporting director revealed that the names currently under consideration include young Brazilian forward João Pedro of English club Chelsea, as well as Argentina's Julián Álvarez. Deco highlighted the nature of these discussions, stating, "There are many players whose entourages we speak with a little to understand what will happen in the future, but we haven't spoken with their clubs yet. We are working quietly on this." This move follows Deco's return from London with Bojan Krkić, after exploring the prospects of the Brazilian forward joining the Catalan side.

Deco emphasized that the sporting management is actively working to identify the necessary new signings, affirming, "Ultimately, we will need to bring in some players, and that's why we continue to work on this project." These efforts align with Hansi Flick's desire for multiple reinforcements as part of his plan for the upcoming football season, aiming to ensure the club's competitiveness across all domestic and continental fronts.