Barcelona transfer stance clear as Deco says no obsession with No. 9 needed | OneFootball

At the start of the 2025–26 season, FC Barcelona have rotated between two players in the centre-forward role. One is Robert Lewandowski, one of the most renowned strikers in European football, and the other is Ferran Torres, whom Hansi Flick has shifted from the wing to a more central position since last season.

With Lewandowski now 37, speculation has grown that Barcelona might look for a new striker in the transfer market, especially with names like Erling Haaland being linked to the club.

However, Sporting Director Deco has downplayed the urgency of signing a new centre-forward, insisting that the team should not be fixated on the idea of a ‘number 9‘.

Speaking in an interview with Tot Costa on Catalunya Ràdio (via Mundo Deportivo), Deco explained that having a traditional striker is not essential in modern football and that Barcelona’s focus should remain on improving from within.

“We shouldn’t be obsessed with signing a No. 9; you might end up making a mistake. Maybe you can play without a No. 9. It’s not the time to talk about signings. Ferran can play as a No. 9. Talking about a No. 9 is a bit misguided, even though there are some very good players.”

Deco also made it clear that this is not the right moment to discuss Robert Lewandowski’s contract renewal, preferring to take a patient approach.

“We’re not going to talk about renewals in October. We’ll take things step by step. He’s one of the best forwards of recent years, at a great level. He’s helped us a lot — he’s scored over 40 goals — but we’ll analyze everything in due time. Right now, it’s about recovering our injured players.”

The Portuguese official emphasized that Barcelona’s most important moves have been the renewals of key young players rather than external signings.

He concluded by expressing confidence in the quality of the current squad while acknowledging the need for continued progress.

Although it already seemed unlikely that Barcelona would pursue a new centre-forward in the January window, Deco’s comments further suggest that the club intends to remain patient.

A decision on adding a new striker could come next summer, depending on how Lewandowski and Ferran perform during the rest of the season.