Deco: ‘I Didn’t Take a Commission for Raphinha

The sporting director of Barcelona, Deco, recently granted an interview to the English magazine ‘FourFourTwo,’ shedding light on the transfer of Raphinha to the Camp Nou. Acknowledging his role in bringing the Brazilian talent to Barcelona, Deco clarified, “I made an effort to bring Raphinha to Camp Nou.”

Raphinha, often referred to as the ‘fifth R’ at Barcelona, transitioned from Leeds to the Catalan club, with Deco serving as his agent at the time. Laporta has consistently expressed gratitude for Deco’s contributions in orchestrating the deal. The dynamics of their relationship shifted when Deco assumed the position of sporting director at the club.

Deco shared insights into the negotiations, stating, “Leeds wanted to sell Raphinha, and then came offers, some even higher than Barcelona’s. The Chelsea owner, Todd Boehly, called me and insisted, putting pressure on me; he was eager to sign Raphinha. However, I didn’t push too hard for Raphinha to leave Leeds. Everything was mutually agreed upon.”

No Commission Received In a pivotal moment, when Chelsea presented a tempting offer, the Leeds owner altered their commitment to selling Raphinha to Barcelona due to the lower bid. Deco had to intervene, explaining, “They had promised, in a desperate moment for Leeds, to sell Raphinha to Barcelona for a certain amount. When they avoided relegation, largely thanks to Raphinha, the president changed his stance due to Chelsea’s offer.” This compelled Deco to “waive my commission because I believed Raphinha deserved to be happy where he dreamed of playing. He wanted to go to Barcelona, and Barça couldn’t match Chelsea’s figures. It was an effort I made so that the player could be there,” concluded the current sporting director.