Spanish football giants and reigning La Liga champions, Barcelona, have officially announced the appointment of former Portugal international, Deco, as the club's new sporting director on a three-year contract.
Deco, a revered Portuguese icon, has already been actively involved in the club's transfer activities during the current summer transfer window, even though his official designation had not been confirmed until now.
In an official statement released on Wednesday, August 16, Barcelona formalized Deco's role as Sporting Director. The statement conveyed:
"Barcelona and Anderson Luis de Souza 'Deco' have reached an agreement regarding his joining the club. The former first-team player, who represented Barcelona between 2004 and 2008, has signed a contract as the sporting director for the next three seasons. In his new capacity, Deco will be responsible for shaping FC Barcelona's sporting philosophy, assembling the squad in collaboration with the coach and coaching staff, and overseeing the football section's operations."
"This appointment aligns with the announcement made on May 2nd, in which the President and the director of the Football Area, Mateu Alemany, agreed on Deco's release from his current duties once the ongoing transfer window concludes on September 2nd. As per the earlier release, Deco and Mateu Alemany will continue to collaborate until the transfer window's closure. Additional details about FC Barcelona's sporting structure will be revealed by the club in the forthcoming weeks."
Deco's history with Barcelona dates back to 2004 when he joined from Benfica. During his four-season stint, he helped secure La Liga titles twice and the prestigious Champions League in 2006. Following his time at Barcelona, Deco played two seasons for Chelsea before returning to Brazil and concluding his career with four seasons at Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro.
This appointment follows a series of organizational changes that Barcelona announced in May. The club's current Director of Football, Mateu Alemany, is set to depart once the transfer window closes, as part of the reshuffling process.