According to Marca, Deco has built a squad for Barcelona that boasts both depth and quality, with the club generating a surplus of €28.5 million from transfers after balancing acquisitions and sales.

Barcelona has been in an almost consistently exhilarating state recently. With a young squad, Yamal on the rise, and the team operating near perfectly, external expectations have soared. Most of the spotlight is on Flick, the German coach who is the primary architect of the team's excellent performances. Barcelona is now just one Champions League title away from being among the most talked-about teams.

However, this success is not solely due to the head coach. Deco has helped the club stabilize its finances, adjust salaries, and enhance squad depth at the sporting director level, providing the coach with ample options in every position. He has maintained a rational and restrained approach, bringing in several players who were not initially on Barcelona's radar. Quality over quantity is the Portuguese director's principle.

No chaos in departures

In the three seasons Deco has overseen Barcelona's operations, the team has won two LaLiga titles, two Spanish Super Cups, and one Copa del Rey, with this season's results yet to be determined. Deco has restored financial order to the club without weakening the squad; on the contrary, he has strengthened it. A large number of academy players have progressed to the first team, allowing the sporting director to carefully select necessary reinforcements. Many signings that were initially questioned have vindicated his judgment with their performances. The arrivals of Gordon and Adeyemi are two recent prime examples.

Deco has also proven that he will not show favoritism to anyone; no player is irreplaceable in this Barcelona team. Dembélé, Lewandowski, and Ferran Torres have all ended their Barcelona careers without causing much disruption.

European giants are not on the same track

When comparing Barcelona's financial performance under Deco's management with that of other major European giants, his achievements are even more remarkable.

During Deco's tenure, Barcelona's transfer balance was positive: 20 new signings cost €289.5 million, while 31 departures generated €318 million, resulting in a surplus of €28.5 million. During the same period, Atlético Madrid had a net expenditure of €175 million, and Real Madrid had a net expenditure of €408.5 million.

In terms of expenditure control, the closest to Barcelona is Bayern Munich, with a negative transfer balance of €122.8 million. Premier League teams' figures are considerably higher: Arsenal had a net expenditure of €569 million, Manchester City €618 million, and Liverpool €635 million—a stark contrast to Barcelona's financial management under Deco.

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