Deco is making it clear that his role as sporting director is very serious. He works tirelessly to guarantee a competitive future for Barça. The recent successes of the Catalan club back up that work.
The Portuguese knows that the demands never disappear. That's why, even after a positive season, he keeps his eyes on the next challenges. Flick has told him that he needs more solidity at the back.
Deco and the search for a center back for Barça
With that in mind, Deco has entered the market in search of a reliable defender. After studying different options, he had found his favorite. His first idea was Bastoni, but Inter's high demands stopped any move.
That setback didn't discourage him. On the contrary, it led him to expand the list of candidates, exploring alternatives that would fit better with Barça's finances. That's how he arrived at a more realistic option.
The desired signing gets complicated
For weeks, the sporting director has worked on an alternative to Bastoni: we're talking about Murillo, Nottingham Forest's center back. Everything seemed to be on track, until the situation changed radically. What seemed like an exciting opportunity now turns into frustration.
Deco has seen firsthand that his efforts may not be enough. In fact, Murillo's future seems to have another destination. He won't play at Camp Nou.
Murillo moves away from Barça and heads toward Arsenal
The Brazilian defender Murillo, a key piece for Nottingham Forest, is Deco's dream to strengthen Barça's back line. His youth and quality fit perfectly with the desired profile.
However, Arsenal has moved ahead in the negotiations. In England, they take it for granted that the deal is very close to being finalized. That is a hard blow for Barça's sporting management.
Arsenal gains ground in the market
Arteta's project is very attractive for any footballer on the rise. Added to that are the financial resources of the Premier League. With such conditions, competing is difficult even for Barça, which, despite its insistence, knows it can do little against such a solid proposal.
Losing Murillo means starting the search for a center back all over again for a Barça that needs to strengthen its defense and can't wait too long. Flick demands speed and clarity in transfer moves. That's why Deco is already analyzing other possibilities and knows that finding the ideal replacement won't be easy, but he won't give up.
Deco looks to the future with determination
Although this deal seems lost, the sporting director keeps his determination intact. He has shown that he can overcome obstacles and get complicated deals done.
Barça still needs solutions to grow, and Deco will have to find them. Meanwhile, Murillo is getting ready to wear the Gunner jersey, leaving FC Barcelona's plan in suspense.