The race to become FC Barcelona president has intensified, and sporting director Deco has been thrust into the spotlight. One of the presidential hopefuls, Victor Font, recently made it clear that should he win the election, Deco would not remain in his post. This statement came amid an existing legal dispute between the two following Font’s comments over Barcelona’s signing of Vitor Roque.
In an exclusive interview with SPORT, Deco addressed Font’s remarks and explained why he took the sporting director role: he trusted Joan Laporta’s project, which initially focused on rebuilding and later on consolidation. Deco said he does not want to pre-emptively assess every possible outcome; if Laporta ceases to be president, circumstances will change and he will consider his options. He stressed that decisions about his future are personal and will be made by him, not imposed on him.
Deco also described his working relationship with Laporta, who signed him as a player during his first term and later brought him in as sporting director. He said he has been granted freedom because he earned the trust needed to build a successful Barcelona, while acknowledging that sporting choices are complicated and must balance the sporting department with the coach, who rarely stays longer than five years. Deco believes the squad has been rebuilt, which strengthened trust with the president, and emphasized that he does not act without the president’s awareness out of respect and because Laporta’s vision can differ. Some decisions must be taken by the club collectively, with the president’s input respected; when there is disagreement, it should be resolved with persuasive arguments and consensus.
The interview, written by Michel Duran and published on 10/02/2026, is illustrated with photos by Eric Alonso/Getty Images. Deco reiterated that Laporta has deep football knowledge and has been surrounded by top figures in the sport, which is important when shaping the club’s sporting strategy and making personnel decisions.
