Deco secures the best possible signing, from Elche to Barça, great news for Lamine Yamal

Deco never rests. Even though the transfer market is closed, Barça's sporting director is still working intensely on planning for next season. He knows that the squad needs very specific reinforcements in several positions, and it seems that he has found exactly what he's looking for at Elche.

Within Barça's sporting leadership, there is a shared diagnosis: Hansi Flick needs more solutions at full-back. On the left, Balde and Gerard Martín share minutes, with more or less success depending on the moment in the season. However, on the right, the situation is much more delicate, because only Jules Koundé can be considered a reliable option for the German coach.

Given this scenario, the presence of a new top-level right-back starting in 2026 seems practically mandatory. Modern soccer demands full-backs who master both phases, who are able to defend over many yards (meters) and, at the same time, provide width and depth consistently. Deco knows this perfectly well and, after many reports and scouting, he has identified the ideal candidate: Héctor Fort.

Héctor Fort shines and earns a return to Barça

Héctor Fort is on loan at Elche and his development is even surpassing the most optimistic expectations within the culé club. Yesterday, against Real Madrid, he delivered a performance that has made waves in Barça's offices. He showed spectacular defensive solidity, well-understood aggression in duels, and an authority on the ball that is reminiscent of elite full-backs.

From a tactical point of view, Héctor Fort's return makes perfect sense for Flick's Barça. He is a full-back capable of moving inside to form a back three in buildup, but also of overlapping the winger and creating overloads on the flank. His decisions on the ball were mature, never giving away possession and always choosing well when to speed up play and when to slow it down.

No less important is his physical ability to sustain high-intensity efforts for many minutes. Against Real Madrid, he handled the end-to-end play, won several defensive duels, and made smart runs into the opposition half. It is clear that Héctor Fort is exactly what Deco wants to make available to Flick in the short to medium term.

Lamine Yamal celebrates it

In addition, Héctor Fort's return to the culé locker room would be fantastic news for Lamine Yamal. They have maintained a great friendship since their time at La Masia, where they shared a locker room and learned together in the youth categories. For a young star like Lamine, surrounding himself with trusted footballers also has a positive impact on his daily performance.

From a strictly footballing perspective, the partnership between Lamine Yamal and Héctor Fort on the right flank offers a very high competitive ceiling. The winger could receive more balls thanks to a full-back who understands when to stay wide and when to draw opponents inside. In addition, Fort guarantees high-level defensive cover when Lamine is left upfield after an attacking action.

That's why Deco's plan is clear: bring back Héctor Fort for 2026 and give him a leading role from day one. The loan at Martínez Valero is fulfilling its goal of giving him experience in LaLiga, away from the daily spotlight of Camp Nou, but with the competitive tension needed to grow. If nothing goes wrong, the academy product will return home with minutes at the elite level, full confidence, and Flick's approval.