FC Barcelona remain focused on the upcoming elections, as does Deco, who openly tied his future to Joan Laporta in an interview with 'SPORT'. While Victor Font previously stated that the Portuguese director would not continue as sporting director if Font were elected, the former player insists he is not bound to the project, though he remains excited by it. Deco extensively discussed football, the evolution of the dressing room, and several key players in a squad aiming for top honours.

This challenging year saw the departure of a significant talent from La Masia: Dro Fernandez. His move to PSG left many FC Barcelona fans feeling cold. "He decided to leave the club," Deco declared. "There’s no club like FC Barcelona, and he wasn’t the only one who left. We spend two or three hours with the players at the training complex, but we aren't part of their daily lives or privy to their thoughts. He could also be playing in the youth team, featuring in the Youth League, as that's appropriate for his age."

"The news gained traction because he was a player involved with the first-team squad. He had a release clause, and we didn't manage to renew his contract in time. We had an agreement with his agent to sit down and negotiate once the player turned 18. After that, events accelerated, and from that point, there's nothing more to say," Deco revealed.

Another prominent name is Lamine Yamal. His improvement stems from a renewed focus on football. "We all learn many things throughout life. Everyone has their own story. He probably experienced his first career injury. And of course, how do you manage that if you've never suffered one before? All experiences help you grow. I believe Lamine has an advantage over others: he's very intelligent and has learned a great deal in his life. He's smart and grasps things very quickly."

"When a footballer, regardless of age, commits 100% to the club's daily routine, it's incredibly positive. We treat everyone equally, even though each individual has their own world and specific circumstances. Some are married, have children, others don't... everyone lives their own reality. We are pleased when we see players evolve, not just in their sporting performance but also in their personal growth. From that point, we see a player who is engaged, happy, enjoying himself, understanding what's explained to him, and applying it. We also cannot expect them to know everything at 18 years old. That's where our role comes in: to support and help them," he added.

Deco revealed Fermin Lopez received an offer in the summer. "He has fought incredibly hard. He has managed to improve many aspects of his game and deliver a distinct level of performance. We received an offer for him in the summer, but we didn't want to sell, nor was it an offer that reflected his true value. Clubs are free to make bids, but that wasn't our intention. We believed the best time to renew his contract was now. We could have waited until the end of the season, but given everything he's doing, this feels a bit more fitting."

Hansi Flick now leads the project, having been Deco's choice to replace Xavi. "We faced two paths: to continue with Xavi's approach or seek another solution. This wasn't a decision made overnight. What impressed us was that he possessed extensive football knowledge. Secondly, the calmness with which he conveyed his ideas, which also aligned very well with ours. We didn't want to make radical changes or start from scratch. We believed that with two or three adjustments, we would be able to compete. We saw that the coach's ideas were a good fit," he concluded.

Dro Fernández

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