The surprise surrounding FC Barcelona’s leadership shake-up came with the news that Deco, the Portuguese international who starred for the club earlier in his career, would step into the role of sporting director. Mateu Alemany, the outgoing football chief, was set to depart the club within two weeks as the transition took shape.
<pFC Barcelona announced the structural change on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, revealing Deco as the club’s new sports director. The former Barça midfielder, who wore the Blaugrana shirt from 2004 to 2008, had already been involved in high level planning for the squad, and the official confirmation formalized his new responsibilities. The announcement emphasized a three-season mandate, underscoring Deco’s remit to shape the sporting project for the coming years.
Deco’s appointment quickly made waves among supporters and insiders alike. The club posted a brief message confirming the hire, noting that Deco would assume the role of head of football operations and would work in close contact with the head coach and the technical staff to align the squad with the club’s sporting philosophy. The transition was planned to unfold during the September presentation, with the next three seasons outlined as the immediate horizon for the project.
Since retiring from professional play in 2013, Deco had remained active in the football world, often linked to his long-time agent connections and to Jorge Mendes, a figure with extensive influence on the Barcelona market. Deco has collaborated with Mendes to build a representation network and develop the D20 Sports company, where a number of high-profile players have been represented. This backdrop fed speculation that Mendes could play a more prominent role in Barcelona’s transfer strategy as the new sporting leadership began to implement its plan.
At the same time, the departure of Mateu Alemany marked a notable turning point for the club. Alemany had previously signaled a possible exit in the early stages of the year, with links to other projects in European football influencing the decision. He chose to stay through the close of the summer transfer window while preparing for a new chapter, and the club confirmed that Deco would work alongside Alemany through the end of the window. Thereafter, Alemany’s future at the club would be determined, with the possibility of a different role within Barcelona if paths aligned.
In the club’s full statement, FC Barcelona confirmed that the agreement with Anderson Luis de Souza, known as Deco, would see him join the club as the sporting director for the next three seasons. Deco’s responsibilities were outlined as shaping the club’s sporting policy and overseeing squad construction in collaboration with the coach and technical staff, ultimately leading the football department. This move was framed as part of a broader plan announced on May 2, when the president and the football leadership agreed to relieve Alemany of certain duties once the current transfer window closed, signaling a coordinated transition strategy.
The plan stated that Deco and Mateu Alemany would work together through the end of the summer market, ensuring a stable handover and a smooth integration of the new leadership structure. In the weeks ahead, Barcelona anticipated further development of its sporting architecture, aiming to bolster the club’s competitive identity while maintaining a steady line of communication with players, agents, and the coaching staff. The evolution of the club’s sporting structure was expected to continue as the season progressed and the transfer window concluded, shaping how Barcelona would approach recruitment, development, and long-term competitiveness.
Deco’s appointment is widely viewed as a strategic step in reinforcing Barcelona’s philosophy while leveraging his experience as a player and his industry connections. The decision reflects Barcelona’s intent to build a coherent, values-driven sporting model that can translate onto the pitch, align with the club’s culture, and respond decisively to the evolving landscape of European football. As the club moves forward, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Deco’s vision integrates with the technical staff’s plans and the head coach’s ambitions for immediate results and long-term growth.
Note: This synthesis reflects reporting from football outlets at the time of the announcement and subsequent club communications, as reporters tracked the unfolding transition and its implications for Barcelona’s recruitment strategy and broader sporting project.