Is Deco A Real Target? - Player Profile
By Tyne-Talk
May 18 2008
With much talk of Barcelona's midfielder Deco or Ánderson Luís de Souza, moving away from Spain & looking towards a career ideally in the English Premier League or the Italian League, Newcastle United have been linked with showing an interest. Concrete sources linking him to the club are scarce & with Champions League football probably top of his agenda, the chances are it's a vague link at best.
The 30 year old who is currently under contract until 2010 said in a recent interview:
"The club spoke with my representative and I know that there are offers, I am going to negotiate. I don't want to leave Barca with problems.
Barca people come and go, but the club continues, and me going is not the end of the world.
I want to be where I am wanted and when things end up this way, it is best that you go. I thank the club for being honest with me.
I will go to England or Italy, I am sure. I won't stay in Spain because the only club that is of Barca's level is Madrid and I would never go to Madrid. I will go where I want and not where the club tells me."
With Frank Riikaard being replaced by Josep Guardiola this summer, there is set to be a mass clearout at Barcelona with Deco & Ronaldinho leading the way.
Deco Fact file:
Season | Club | Championship | European Competitions | Caps |
2007/2008 | Barcelona | 18 Games 1 Goal | 6 Champions League Games | 6 Games |
2006/2007 | Barcelona | 30 Games 1 Goal | 8 Champions League Games 2 Goals | |
2005/2006 | Barcelona | 29 Games 3 Goals | 11 Games Champions League 2 Goals | |
2004/2005 | Barcelona | 35 Games 8 Goals | 7 Games Champions League 2 Goals | |
2003/2004 | Porto | 28 Games 2 Goals | ||
2002/2003 | Porto | 30 Games 10 Goals | ||
2001/2002 | Porto | 30 Games 13 Goals | ||
2000/2001 | Porto | 31 Games 6 Goals | ||
1999/2000 | Porto | 23 Games 1 Goal | ||
1998/1999 | Porto | 6 Games | ||
1998/1999 | SC Salgueiros | 9 Games 2 Goals | ||
1997/1998 | Alverca | 32 Games 13 Goals | ||
Due to injuries, this season the Brazilian born, Portugal International has played 18 games, started 14 and scored once. Playing a total of 1228 minutes on the pitch and receiving 10 yellow cards in the process.
As well as being presented with a number of trophy's during his time Porto and Barcelona, he also has several personal prizes to his name, including ; UEFA's "Most Valuable Player" title and "Best Midfielder" in the Champions League competition of 2003/2004 whilst under the management of Jose Mourinho.
Deco is due to travel with Portugal for Euro 2008 where his side will begin the group stages with Switzerland, Czech Republic and Turkey.
The Sunday Sun first reported Newcastle were eyeing up a £15million (€20million) bid for Deco in early April, claiming the club had made contact with his agent. They also suggested that the wages would meet £100,000 a week matching that of the clubs top goal scorer, Michael Owen.
What's your view? Do we need or want Deco at the club? - Will at 30 and having suffered minor injuries preventing him from playing over half of Barcelona's league games alone this season be worth £15million.......?
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I think it could be money better spent.
Not when you can get as good as he is playing now for less
*Yawns*