Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, has highlighted the club’s strategy of prioritising homegrown talent over external transfers. Deco stated, “It’s always better not to go to the market if you have quality at home,” underscoring the club’s commitment to nurturing young players from their academy.
Focus on Youth Development
Deco elaborated on the club’s planning process, which intentionally leaves room for young talents to emerge. He mentioned several promising players, including Fort, Cubarsí, and Fermín López, who made significant strides last year. Deco also praised Lamine Yamal, suggesting he could have thrived in Barcelona’s best-ever teams, and Marc Bernal, who he believes would always have had opportunities at the club.
Recent Developments
Recent news has seen Barcelona taking steps to secure the future of their young talents. On 9 September 2024, the club announced plans to activate a new deal for Marc Bernal. This follows Bernal’s unfortunate ACL injury against Rayo Vallecano on 27 August 2024, which came shortly after he signed a new contract with Barcelona until 2026 on 24 July 2024.
Additionally, Fermín López has been sidelined for three weeks due to an injury, as reported on 4 September 2024. Meanwhile, Lamine Camara, another young talent, underwent a medical ahead of his move to AS Monaco on 30 July 2024.
Commitment to Homegrown Talent
Deco’s comments reflect Barcelona’s long-standing tradition of developing players through their famed La Masia academy. By focusing on internal talent, the club aims to build a sustainable future while maintaining their competitive edge.