Deco: "Singling out Barça's veterans is one thing; not respecting them is another"

Deco has spoken to SPORT about the current issues at FC Barcelona. Following the 8-2 defeat against Bayern Munich, many of the veterans in the Barça squad were singled out for not being good enough. Deco went through a similar situation and knows what it's like to leave the club after winning the Champions League in 2006. Two years later, when he saw that Pep Guardiola didn't need him, Deco said: "I don't want to be somewhere I'm not wanted." 

For Deco, the defeat against Bayern was hard to watch. "The reality at Barça is that over the last few years, the team has done things because Leo carries them. But collectively, they've been failing."

"It's difficult to know if Messi is going to leave or not," reflected Deco. "It would be a mistake to not do something and rebuild with Leo. It'll be so much more difficult with him."

There are players like Luis Suarez, Busquets and Alba who are being questioned right now. "I know it's hard because I've gone through it myself at Barça. But that's a sign of how important those players are. When you single out your main players it's normal because they are so important and have won everything. That's football. But singling out players is one thing, showing a lack of respect is another. You have to be careful because you're maybe talking about the best generation in history, players who have won everything for this club."

Neymar's possible return to the Camp Nou

One of the stars in this season's Champions League is former Barça man Neymar Junior. In recent summers he's been linked with a return to Barcelona and Deco is in favour of that happening. "I'd like to see Neymar back at Barça. I believe he's a player, behind Leo and Cristiano, who can do the most damage to teams. I don't know if it's possible but I would like it a lot. His departure was a big mistake."

"Trincao has a bright future, but he isn't someone who has come to fix the problems"

Deco also has words of praise, and caution, when it comes to a new Portuguese youngster at Barça: Francisco Trincao. "I like him. Historically speaking, youngsters who come from abroad have struggled. The level expected of you is high and I don't know if they'll be patient but he's a quality player. But he isn't the player who will fix all of Barça's problems because he's one for the future."