Barcelona's Deco Discusses Rodri Transfer and Lewandowski Replacement Plans

Barcelona's sporting director Deco has confirmed the club's recent acquisition of midfielder Rodri from Manchester City for £65 million. Deco stated that while signing Rodri makes sense for the team, the initial plan did not include him due to availability concerns.

Rodri's transfer was partly motivated by the desire to prevent Real Madrid from securing the player. Deco emphasized that Rodri is one of the best midfielders globally and will enhance the team's performance. He also mentioned that the club is actively seeking a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who left after a successful tenure.

Deco acknowledged the challenge of finding a player to match Lewandowski's impact, noting that while they have internal solutions, they are exploring options before the transfer window closes on September 1. The competitive season for Barcelona begins on August 23 against Elche.