According to Sport, Deco had long anticipated that Atlético Madrid would not easily let go of Álvarez, so he prepared two key contingency plans for Barcelona well in advance.

Barcelona would not sign their primary target for this summer, Álvarez, but the club is confident it has found an adequate solution to strengthen the centre-forward position. Gabriel Jesus arrived at the last minute, completing the final piece of a puzzle that Deco had been planning for months, after lengthy preparation for a scenario where the Argentine striker could not join Barcelona.

Deco never hid the difficulty of prying Álvarez away from Atlético Madrid in internal conversations. Therefore, while Barcelona kept the possibility of this deal alive, Deco also pursued alternatives. Gordon was one of the most attractive candidates to him.

Although Gordon's natural position is winger, Deco was highly impressed by his performances as an emergency centre-forward when analyzing several Newcastle United matches from last season. Deco greatly valued Gordon's understanding of the centre-forward position, his movement ability, and his characteristic ease in switching between the two positions without affecting his performance.

From that point on, related work proceeded with absolute secrecy. Deco contacted Gordon's representatives and made several trips to London, eventually pushing the deal forward, which was completed on May 27. While most external attention was focused on Álvarez, Barcelona had secured an alternative.

Gordon, much more than just a winger

Deco greatly values the characteristics of this English player. He appreciates the player's attacking prowess on the wing and his awareness in pushing forward, and he also recognizes his off-the-ball movement, dropping deep to receive possession and participating in build-up play when operating centrally. Additionally, his height also gives him tactical value for scoring headers.

The sporting director consistently conveyed a clear idea to those around him: according to Flick's tactical needs, Gordon can play as both a winger and centre-forward. This multi-position adaptability was one of the most important considerations when the club decided to recruit him.

Barcelona, in this way, prepared for every possible outcome regarding Álvarez's recruitment. Meanwhile, the emergence of Hamza Abdelkarim also became another viable option for that position. In the final weeks of the transfer window, the club understood that even though their primary target for the summer ultimately fell through, they did not need to force a signing simply for the sake of reinforcement.

Jesus, Deco's final trump card, a young star

The transfer operation was not yet complete. Jesus joined for €10 million, a major surprise that emerged in the final hours. The Brazilian signed a two-year contract with a one-year extension option, and Barcelona viewed this deal as an excellent market opportunity.

Economically limited, but once he regains his best form, his profit potential will be substantial. His arrival truly completes the squad; for most of the summer, the option for this position seemed entirely dependent on the Atlético situation.

Ultimately, barring any unexpected developments, the Argentine striker will remain at Atlético Madrid for one more season. But Barcelona was already prepared for this possibility. First, Gordon was recruited, a player who, in Deco's view, was far more than just a winger from the outset. Hamza managed to establish himself, and as the transfer window approached its close, Gabriel Jesus also joined the team.

Barcelona failed to sign the striker they had previously listed as their primary target, but Deco had made preparations to prevent the team from becoming solely dependent on Álvarez, and this plan began well before the transfer window entered its final stage.

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