La Liga giants Barcelona have early this week secured a fresh addition to the club’s backroom staff.
That’s according to the reliable Fabrizio Romano, who points towards the reinforcement as having come in the scouting department.
The individual to have agreed to the terms of a contract with the reigning Spanish champions? João Amaral.
Amaral, for his part, is a Portuguese director, who most recently spent time on the books of Rio Ave in his home country.
The 38-year-old spent the 2024/25 campaign plying his trade at the Estádio dos Arcos.
And along the way, Amaral evidently did enough to pique the attentions of those in a position of power at the aforementioned Barcelona.
This comes amid confirmation that, following a personal recommendation on the part of Blaugrana chief Deco:
‘Barcelona complete appointment of João Amaral as new Head of scouting with immediate effect. Former Rio Ave director has full trust from Deco as they share very close relationship.’
Conor Laird – GSFN