Deco breaks his silence and calls transfer poker over Julian Alvarez

The long-running transfer dispute between FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid over the Argentine striker Julian Alvarez dominated the headlines this summer, but sporting director Deco has now broken his silence and explained that the offer of one hundred million euros is structured over three seasons and that no media pressure dictated the situation.

Media and Discussion

Barca boss Deco said that most of what was said about this matter came from the media. “We spoke to them with full respect, and they told us from the start that they do not want to sell him,” he told RAC1. He added that nothing justifies a discussion. He also explained the process of the transfer poker.

Deco emphasized that the matter has more to do with media pressure than with the actual reality. He pointed out that repeatedly raising the same topic adds no value and that the discussion about Julian Alvarez’s transfer already dominated the headlines in the summer. The dispute of the summer was the possible move. The Argentine remained in the Spanish capital in the end. Deco gave a behind‑the‑scenes insight.

Offer and Payment Terms

Deco dismissed the rumours that Barcelona had pushed Alvarez towards a public wish. Instead, he confirmed that Barcelona had made an official and proper offer of one hundred million euros, to be paid over three seasons. “There are even clubs that make their payments over five seasons,” he added.

Barcelona still hasn't signed Julian Alvarez as it seeks a new number 9 striker

Deco put an end to any personal feud with his former Atlético colleague Mateu Alemany. “I have no problem with Mateu. I don’t know if he has a problem with me, because I have done nothing to him,” he said, emphasizing that Alemany had not responded to the offers for Julian.

Deco recalled his own playing days, when the president of Porto, Pinto da Costa, forbade him from moving to Barcelona and granted him a one‑year postponement so that he could choose freely the following year. He compared this situation to Alvarez’s and stressed that after a year he had received an offer from Chelsea but had chosen Barcelona.

After the departure of Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona searched for a pure centre‑forward for a long time and finally signed Gabriel Jesus on the last day of the transfer window. Deco explained that there are only a few pure strikers, naming Erling Haaland, Luis Suárez, and emphasized that Raphinha currently assumes the role of goal‑scorer, so the club does not need an additional goal‑scorer at the moment.