According to Sport, Deco anticipated that Atletico Madrid would not easily let Alvarez go, and therefore prepared two contingency plans for Barcelona.

Barcelona will not sign their primary target for this summer, Alvarez, but the club believes they have found sufficient solutions to strengthen their center-forward position. Gabriel Jesus arrived at the last minute, becoming the final piece in a plan Deco had been developing for months, as he had prepared for the scenario where the Argentine player could not join Barcelona.

Deco never hid from those close to him the difficulties in bringing Alvarez away from Atletico Madrid. Therefore, while Barcelona maintained hope in this deal, Deco was also exploring alternative options. Gordon was one of the special candidates who caught his attention.

Although Gordon's natural position is winger, Deco was particularly impressed by his performances in the unfamiliar center-forward role when analyzing several Newcastle United matches from last season. Deco valued Gordon's ability to read center-forward positioning, his fluid movement, and his seamless ability to transition between the two positions without affecting his performance.

From that point on, related work proceeded in absolute secrecy. Deco contacted Gordon's team and flew to London multiple times, ultimately pushing the deal forward, and it was completed on May 27. While most public attention focused on Alvarez, Barcelona secured a backup option.

Gordon, More Than Just a Winger

Deco greatly admired the English player's qualities. He appreciated the player's attacking ability and offensive awareness on the wing, and also recognized his movement capabilities when operating in a central role, his ability to drop deep to receive the ball, and his involvement in build-up play. Moreover, his height also provided tactical value for aerial goal-scoring.

The sporting director consistently conveyed a clear message to those around him: according to Flick's tactical requirements, Gordon could play both as a winger and center-forward. This flexibility was one of the most important factors in the team's decision to sign him.

In this way, Barcelona prepared for any outcome regarding the signing of Alvarez. Meanwhile, the emergence of Hamza Abdulkarim also became another viable option for this position. In the final weeks of the transfer window, the club understood that even if this major deal for this final summer did not materialize, they did not need to force a signing simply because of it.

Jesus, Deco's Final Trump Card

However, transfer activity was not yet over. Jesus arrived for €10 million, a major surprise that emerged in recent hours. The Brazilian player signed a two-year contract with a one-year extension option, and Barcelona viewed this deal as an excellent market opportunity.

Despite financial constraints, the benefits he could provide by returning to peak form would be substantial. His arrival completed the squad; for most of the summer, the options for this position seemed to depend entirely on the situation of the "Little Spider."

Ultimately, barring unexpected developments, the Argentine player will play one more season for Atletico Madrid. But Barcelona prepared for this possibility. First, Gordon was signed, a player who, in Deco's view, was always more than just a winger. Hamza has successfully established himself, and as the transfer window approached its end, Gabriel Jesus also joined the team.

Barcelona did not sign the striker they had previously identified as their primary target, but Deco planned contingencies to prevent the team from depending entirely on Alvarez, and this strategic arrangement began long before the transfer window entered its final stages.

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