According to AS via RAC1 on Wednesday, Deco is the favourite to replace Mateu Alemany as Barcelona’s new director of football.
Deco has long worked for Barça in Brazil and Portugal and has played a key role in signings, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Raphinha, a player he represents.
He spent four seasons as a player at Barça and maintained his relationship with club president Joan Laporta over the years.
Deco was previously the technical secretary of the Gabon football federation. He arrived there, indirectly, thanks to Laporta and, above all, to his former brother-in-law, Alejandro Echevarría, who worked on a project with Jaume Ferrer, a former member of Laporta’s first board. Guim Laporta, son of the president, also worked in Gabon.
Echevarría is also closely linked to Lionel Messi. Laporta has been using him as a mediator to rebuild his ties with the Argentinian and convince him to return to Barça.
Kieran Quaile | GSFN
