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Barcelona director Deco not too long ago sat down for an in depth interview with SPORT, throughout which he mentioned intimately a number of issues, together with the membership’s latest renewal spree, which noticed them tie down the likes of Pedri, Ronald Araujo, and Gavi to new offers.
The previous Portugal midfielder additionally make clear his conversations with Araujo which led to the contract extension at a time when he was being linked with a departure to Juventus.
As a part of the interview, Deco additionally gave an perception into the contract conditions of a number of different Barcelona gamers and the membership’s plans to handle them.
On Lamine Yamal’s state of affairs
Lamine Yamal is without doubt one of the gamers at Barcelona whose contract runs out in 2026. The Blaugrana have already got a plan in place to maintain him on the membership for a very long time, with Deco confirming as a lot in the course of the chat.
“A footballer from right here. Like Gavi, Cubarsi, Lamine and others, who’ve grown up right here, I see no higher place for them than at Barça. I believe Lamine feels this, he enjoys this and he’s completely happy at Barça, in Barcelona, he has his buddies, his household,” mentioned Deco.
“From right here, we’ve got to do our homework. We’ve got to be sure that he’s at all times completely happy and make the contracts. We’ve got a duty to Lamine in any respect ranges and he have to be completely happy. He’s a key participant and there’s no value, we is not going to take heed to affords.”
On Lewandowski, Martinez
In the meantime, Deco additionally supplied an replace on the state of affairs of Inigo Martinez and Robert Lewandowski, each of whom have clauses to increase their contracts for another yr in the event that they meet sure situations.
On Martinez, he mentioned: “Inigo has a clause in his contract that might be activated, however we’ve already been clear with him for months. He’s a participant who contributes rather a lot to the group and the locker room. He’s a frontrunner, and a participant we would like for subsequent season.”
Set to increase their keep. (Picture by Alex Caparros/Getty Photographs)
Relating to Lewandowski, Deco remarked: “It’s a unique case. They’ve totally different clauses. Robert has a contract, however the membership may terminate it if sure situations aren’t met. We’re clear that we would like him to remain, however Robert isn’t only a Barça participant.
“He’s a world determine, probably the greatest forwards in soccer historical past. I believe he’ll wish to keep as a result of, along with having a contract, we’re very pleased with him. But when a participant doesn’t wish to keep, it’s at all times tough to maintain them.
“That will likely be a query for Robert when the time comes, however I imagine he’ll keep. If you communicate to him, he at all times talks concerning the future, the following season. He’s very concerned, a real skilled.”
On Eric Garcia’s future
Eric Garcia is one other participant whose contract expires in 2026, with Barcelona supervisor Hansi Flick blocking his switch to Como in the course of the winter switch window. On being requested if there have been plans to resume the Spaniard, Deco famous:
“I’ll say once more: every participant has their very own story and contract. Eric is a participant who grew rather a lot final season at Girona. The Eric that golf equipment wished this season is just not the identical Eric who left right here a yr in the past. He’s a way more developed, way more mature participant.
“He has plenty of self-confidence, and he’s an Olympic champion. He’s 23 years previous and reaching his maturity. He has another yr on his contract with us, and the connection together with his agent is nice.”
Eric Garcia’s contract expires in 2026. (Picture by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Photographs)
Persevering with, he added: “I believe we have to take issues step-by-step. In a season, there are moments—generally a participant feels valued, and different instances not. Proper now, he’s in second, however we don’t know if he’ll keep.
“I imagine he’ll as a result of I believe he has the power to achieve a excessive degree, after which he should wish to keep at Barça. As soon as that occurs, he’s a participant we wish to depend on, however I don’t assume it’s the second but.”
On Jules Kounde’s future
Jules Kounde has develop into a vital participant for Barcelona, nailing down the right-back spot for himself this season. He has a contract that runs till 2027 and Deco was requested if there have been plans to supply him a brand new deal.
“He has this season and two extra. His contract ends in 2027. Each state of affairs has its second. We don’t do renewals simply because a participant’s contract is ending, and we rush to resume them. There’s a course of, a consolidation of issues,” mentioned Deco.
“I don’t wish to speak about one or the opposite, each participant has their second and particular contractual state of affairs. We’re very calm with Kounde, and I’m positive we’ll need him to stick with us,” he added.
“He’s solely 26, and when the time comes, we’ll focus on it. If we’re constructing a group for the years to come back, we would like Kounde with us.”
