Deco explains why Barcelona never pursued Estevao before Chelsea move | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have focused on signing developmental bets in recent seasons. They went on a spree this January, but even before that, the club had brought in a number of promising players since Deco became sporting director.

One player they did not pursue, despite his obvious talent, was Estevao Willian before he joined Chelsea. Although touted as the biggest Brazilian talent since Neymar and a self-proclaimed Barcelona fan, the club did not move for him.

Estevao has since joined Chelsea, where he has made a name for himself with some brilliant performances. Now, in an interview with Brazilian channel TNT Sports, as reported by SPORT, Deco has explained why Barcelona never positioned themselves for the Brazilian teenager.

Deco started by highlighting Barcelona’s squad planning at the time:

“There are several reasons. First, in the construction phase we are in, we have a player in the same position with similar characteristics called Lamine Yamal. It’s obvious.”

He then addressed the question of whether both players could have played together:

“However, can they play together? Yes, great players always adapt. The problem is that our priorities were not to strengthen that position.”

Deco further emphasized the importance of making strategic investments across the squad rather than spending heavily on players with overlapping skill sets:

“If you have money to spend and you invest it in a player with the same characteristics, then you can’t complain later that you’re missing players in other positions.”

He also pointed out that timing played a key role. The club’s decisions were influenced by the moment Barcelona was in, and signing Estevao was simply not aligned with their immediate needs:

“It’s a question of timing and of Barcelona’s moment, when other decisions had to be made, and this was not one of them.”

Deco suggested that Estevao’s profile did not fit the club’s tactical needs at the time:

“Maybe if Estêvão were a right-footed player who played on the other side, the solution would have been there… but that wasn’t the case. He’s a very similar player to Lamine, although with different characteristics.”

He made it clear that the decision was not a reflection of Estevao’s talent, but rather a consequence of Barcelona’s strategic priorities and squad balance.

“He and Lamine are two great players, but at that moment, it wasn’t the decision. It has nothing to do with quality, but with the moment Barça were in when strengthening the squad.”

Finally, Deco acknowledged the Brazilian’s quality in action, recalling his strong performance in Chelsea’s 3–0 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League.

Everything points to Estevao having a huge career in the sport. That said, Deco makes complete sense in saying that Barcelona chose not to pursue a potential move for the Brazilian because of Lamine Yamal’s presence on the right wing.

In contrast, Barcelona signed Roony Bardghji for a bargain fee, and the Swedish winger has settled in well. This has allowed them to reinforce other positions, including the goalkeeping department. We will see how the Brazilian’s career plays out and whether his path crosses with that of the Catalan club at any point in the future.