Deco thinks Barca made mistake not moving for Ivan Fresneda

There was a lot of internal debate about the signing of the right-back until last week. The new sporting director, Deco, wanted to bring in Iván Fresneda. He is convinced of the player's quality and the technical reports from all Barça scouts supported the signing. In the end they opted for Joao Cancelo, but Deco believes that the Blaugrana are making a mistake by not signing the Valladolid right-back whose price could explode in the next few years and then it would be very difficult to sign him.

Deco was clear from his arrival at Barcelona that the club needed a full-back. He was surprised when in the first planning meetings he noticed that this position was not a priority, but the Koundé case broke out and Barça were forced to try to bring in a top-level full-back. It was then that Deco put Fresneda's name on the table. He loved the player and the Blaugrana's coaches also recommended his signing... but Xavi wanted a much more experienced full-back.

All parties agreed not to take any decisions lightly until the return from the tour of the United States. And then came an event that could have ended Deco's relationship with Mateu Alemany. The still director of football took the decision to negotiate desperately for Juan Foyth and travelled to Villarreal, where he found a resounding 'no' to the departure of the Argentine full-back. He was the winger that Xavi wanted and Mateu tried, knowing that it was practically impossible to sign him.

From then on, Deco took the reins of the situation. He spoke to Xavi and insisted on Fresneda. A first offer had already been made and for one million more the deal could be closed. But Xavi, after discarding Foyth, wanted Joao Cancelo and Deco promised to try. The sporting director could not deny Cancelo's quality despite his controversial nature and Barça were not about to make a mess of Jorge Mendes, his agent, with the renewals of Lamine Yamal and Balde just around the corner. He set about negotiating with Mendes but made it clear that if progress was not made within a week, he would sign Fresneda.

Mendes did his job and in the meantime he managed to reach an agreement in principle with Manchester City, with a few details still to be finalised. Cancelo's salary was greatly reduced and the winger was to arrive at the maximum figures Barça had put on the table. And when it was all tied up, Deco decided to release Fresneda, much to his regret, so that he would no longer hold out and sign for the club that suited him.

Deco believed more in a Fresneda-type full-back for Barça as an investment for the future. It was clear to him that he could perform immediately and that he could solve the right wing in the coming years with a very economically advantageous operation. Now, Barça will sweat to sign Cancelo next year if the option to buy is more than 35 million euros, as it will be. It is quite likely that there will be no margin to sign him in 2024 and the problem will continue. The lack of financial resources made it impossible to bring in Fresneda and loan him out and sign Cancelo. This operation seems to be reserved for Chelsea: they would sign the Valladolid full-back and loan him out. This way they will have an important asset for the future. Like Deco wanted.