Deco has been named the new sporting director of FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona and Deco have reached an agreement on his return to the Club but in a new role this time. The Portuguese sensation signs a contract as sporting director at the Club for the next three seasons. He will be in charge of improving and carrying FC Barcelona's sporting philosophy and putting together the squad with the coach and the coaching and becoming head of the football section.

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A statement was released on 2 May in which the President and the director of the Football Area, Mateu Alemany, agreed to his release from his duties once the current transfer window comes to an end on 2 September. As stated in the release Deco and Mateu Alemany will continue to work together until the closing of the transfer window. In the coming weeks, the Club will release details of the FC Barcelona sporting structure.

The footballing career of Deco:

Deco started his career as a footballer in the hometown of São Paulo with Nacional and then Corinthians. At the age of 20, he made the move to Europe. Portugal was his destination and the midfielder finished with 75 appearances for the national team of his adopted country.

Deco's first club stop was Benfica before he joined their big rivals, FC Porto. He won a UEFA Cup, three league titles, and a Champions League title with Porto. After lifting Europe's biggest club prize with the Portuguese club, he signed for the Blaugrana in 2004.

In his four seasons as a Blaugrana, Deco made 161 appearances, scored 20 goals, and provided 45 assists. The Portuguese international peak moment came in the 2006 Champions League victory in Paris over Arsenal. 15 years later he is returning in a different role as an expert in the search of new talents across Europe to strengthen the Club's future.