The club's sporting director shared his thoughts on the 2025/26 season.
Winning another La Liga title is just the start for the new Barcelona team. This was the idea expressed by the sports director of the Deco club after the Catalans, three rounds before the finish, guaranteed themselves gold medals by beating Real Madrid.
In Deco's opinion, the key factor to success was the integration of a new generation of La Masia Academy graduates. Such graves as Lamin Yamal, Pau Kubarsi and Fermin Lopez, were transformed into fundamental Vikonavts in the starting warehouse.
“It’s true that we won two La Ligas, but we want to win more, we believe that we can get more. . For me, the team is the beginning of a new series, the start of a great story, even though they are so young, and have already defeated the greats,” said Deku.
The sports director also praised the work of head coach Hansi Flick. With a truly competent team, the Catalans managed to win a championship series with 11 victories and retain the title, even as they exited the Champions League at the quarter-final stage.
Now, according to Deco’s words, the club will not be able to enter the transfer market in large numbers in search of four or five new players.
The main topic for the discussion was the loan of the 28-year-old English striker Marcus Rashford from Manchester United. Although the Englishman is always guaranteed to start at the start, he will play an important role in the season. The most fantastic goal from a free kick became the top goal in the upcoming El Clasico against Real Madrid.
“We knew about his rookies, I’ve learned a lot since I scored for United, but this goal was incredible. Rashford has already helped us, and it’s not easy for someone of his caliber to go on loan. It was up to him to replace Rafinha. Sometimes we lost spare parts, which is also psychologically important, but Marcus reacted miraculously and put in all his strength,” encouraging Deku.
The sports director is still shying away from direct comments due to Gravts's residual gain, but says that the Englishman deserved his important role in the Spanish championship. According to Dzherel, the Catalan club has the option to buy the striker’s contract for 35 million euros (30 million pounds sterling), and Gravec himself, having already hit the ban, will lose his job in Spain.
Marcus Rashford's stats for Barcelona this season: La Liga: 32 matches, 8 goals, 7 assists. Champions League: 11 matches, 6 goals, 3 assists.