Deco forces his exit from Barça, it's mandatory, €35M now or free in the summer

Deco has the important mission of being the person in charge of sports planning for FC Barcelona. Following Hansi Flick's advice and Joan Laporta's financial guidelines, the Portuguese is trying to strengthen the Barça squad in every transfer window. Last summer, he brought in Dani Olmo and this year he has done the same with Marcus Rashford, Joan García, and Bardghji.

However, Deco doesn't just focus on signings: he also plays a very relevant role in departures. When Flick rules out a player, the sporting director gets to work to find him a new destination. This has already happened with Ansu Fati, Vitor Roque, or Pablo Torre, and everything suggests that this summer we'll see a similar situation with a key figure in the Barça locker room: Robert Lewandowski.

Deco analyzes Robert Lewandowski's future

The Portuguese is keeping a close eye on what is happening with Robert Lewandowski, who is under contract with Barça until June 2026. However, rumors suggest that he could be living his last weeks as a Barça player. Although he remains decisive, Deco is aware of his age and contractual situation, so he plans to force his departure in January to obtain some benefit.

The idea is clear: if Robert Lewandowski leaves in the summer, he'll go for free; if he leaves in January, he could bring money into the club's coffers. According to several sources, some teams from Saudi Arabia are already seriously considering making a €35 million offer for the striker. If that proposal arrives, Deco won't hesitate to accept it.

An economic and sporting decision

For Barça, selling Robert Lewandowski would mean significant relief in the wage bill. In addition, that €35 million would allow them to strengthen other areas of the field and keep adjusting the accounts to the demands of financial fair play. Deco believes this is the ideal time to close a deal that benefits all parties.

The sporting director knows that Barça needs a generational change in attack. Keeping the Polish player until the end of his contract would be a luxury that's difficult to sustain and, above all, a missed opportunity to obtain a return. The priority is to plan for the medium term, not just keep stars from the past.

Selling Robert Lewandowski is also linked to the model Hansi Flick wants to consolidate at Barça. The German coach is looking for a more dynamic team, with greater mobility and the ability to press high up the field. For that, he needs different profiles than those of a classic number nine like the Polish player.