Barcelona’s Deco meets with agents of 19-year-old defender

Barcelona Director of Football Deco has been in the headlines this week after giving an extensive interview discussing the club’s summer transfer business, but has also been seen meeting with multiple agents of late. Last week Deco was seen meeting with Andy Bara, the agent of Cardoso Varela, Joan Garcia, Dani Olmo and Brazilian teenager Rafael Belinho.

This week he has been seen meeting with Carlos Goncalves and Antonio Casanova of the agency Pro Eleven, as revealed by Sport. The meeting was informal, but they did discuss 19-year-old defender Goncalo Oliveira.

Goncalo Oliveira: Catching Jose Mourinho’s eye

Oliveira, who plys his trade for Benfica, has started impressing for their B team, and has also been called up and capped for Portugal’s under-21 side. While he is yet to get on for the senior side, he has been on the bench for Benfica on a number of occasions. Left-footed, and out of contract in 2027, he ticks a number of boxes for Barcelona’s transfer policy. The Catalan daily also say that Oliveira has earned the approval of new manager Jose Mourinho, who has a ‘weakness’ for him.

Barcelona’s needs in central defence

Barcelona may well be in need of a central defender next summer. As things stand, they currently have seven defenders to cover four spots in their backline, following the exit of Inigo Martinez. The Basque defender was their only left-footed option in the senior squad.

Fermín López has begun to do recovery on the pitch. It’s expected that he will be able to play against Girona after the break. @alexpintanel

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) October 3, 2025

In addition, Andreas Christensen is currently out of contract next summer, and Deco has avoided a decisive answer on whether they intend to extend the Dane’s contract. Equally, Barcelona have made a habit of signing promising teenagers under Deco’s management, be it for use in the first team, as with Roony Bardghji, or in order to develop and then sell on.