Barcelona's director Football Deco has surprised many by saying that the club will make this summer between two and four signing sessions, despite doubts about their ability to register players again this summer. The Blaugrana reportedly made the left wing their priority for the summer, but little else was expected.
Deco and Barcelona have made it very clear that, like signing players, their goal was to keep the best players they have. This has been proven by new deals for Gavi, Pedri, Ronald Araujo and Raphinha. Deco, however, promised several signing sessions.
“We are not going to sell our best players. We will grow with many of the same players this season. We will make two, three or four signing sessions, but we will not hurry like a crazy market,” he told the BBC.
Two of the names that are most connected to Barcelona are Luis Diaz and Manchester United's Marcus Rashford from Liverpool. The first is considered to be the preferred choice of Deco, while the latter is a cheaper alternative if they can persuade United in a loan agreement.
“We have focused on renewing contracts; then we are talking about the newcomers. Rashford and Luis Diaz? Of course these two players, as you said, are good, but they have contracts with their clubs, so we will not talk about it because it is not fair. But if we decide to go to the market, we will certainly find a number of names.
Barcelona finished the season with 88 points, seven fewer than Rivals Real Madrid the previous season. Deco was expected to improve Los Blancos before next year under Xabi Alonso.
“Next season will not be easy, because I know that Real Madrid has many players at top level in the first place, a great team. Of course they want to improve. It is very important to have a strong Madrid.”
“It is very important to have strong players at top level, players who want to view people. I think Madrid has players like us. Now it is important to keep the best players in LaLiga. So for us it is important that Madrid is strong, that Atlético is strong and we have to be there.”
It seems that the most likely of those signing sessions is Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia. The Deco statements, however, come as a surprise, whereby the club is said to have the idea that they will no longer be within their salary limit this summer. That is why Barcelona could only spend half of what they make and store of players' movements in terms of which players they can register.