Barcelona could target more ‘muscle’ in the transfer market as part of a squad rebuild for a new coach, with sporting director Deco’s recent comments in an interview to a Portuguese magazine potentially applicable to a player like Everton’s Amadou Onana.

Deco was heavily criticised for some of the things said to SOL, which covered allegedly “breaking with the past” and a long-peddled club DNA – there was later a clarification of a ‘misunderstanding’ from the publication, apology to Deco and blame placed on the journalist responsible.

But some of his other comments still hinted at looking for players who could bring something different to Barca in order to strengthen weaknesses that have previously cost them.

“The team did not reveal, in many games, the physical and athletic capacity with which it could surpass its opponents,” Deco had said.

It points to a more physically strong profile of player, moving beyond technical ability from typically smaller individuals – the like of which from Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi previously had Barca on top of the world. That no longer feels like enough and SPORT had already reported interest in Onana, who has showcased a superb all-round game since moving to the Premier League.

Deco admitted that Barca are simply not able to compete in the transfer market when it comes to established superstars. Onana wouldn’t come cheap, having joined Everton for €38m (£33m) in 2022, but is still only 22 and fits the same bracket as Vitor Roque, whose eventual price tag will hit at least €55m.

“There is no escaping reality,” Deco said. “We are going through a difficult phase in many areas, we don’t have the money to go to the market to look for reinforcements who already have a name and still want to win titles, we have to bet on people like that boy you saw, Vitor Roque, who has everything to be a top striker. But he is very young, 19 years old, we will need to give him support. But it is an example that we continue to work well in many aspects.”

Even with players like Marc Guiu, Fermin Lopez and Pau Cubarsi coming into the first-team this season, following in the footsteps of Gavi and Alejandro Balde, Deco also cast doubt on simply focusing on promoting home-grown talent as it wouldn’t be enough.

“Of course everyone says that Barcelona is a training club and that it creates players every year, but this process has to be done intelligently,” he said. “You can’t take a group of kids, put on a Barca shirt and [expect them to] win titles from one day to the next.”