Deco ‘came to training drunk’ as a Barcelona player and is now key in club’s restructuring process

Deco has been tasked with restructuring Barcelona’s playing squad, 15 years after he was sold for ‘coming to training drunk’.

The former Portugal midfielder played for the Catalan giants between 2004 and 2008, getting 20 goals and 44 assists in 161 appearances.

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However, his time at the club came to an end under Pep Guardiola, who sold him on to Chelsea for a fee of £8million.

While 31 years of age at the time, Alexander Hleb claimed that his teammate was sold alongside Brazilian legend Ronaldinho that summer as a result of turning up drunk for training.

“Ronaldinho and Deco came to training drunk,” he told VOKA TV.

“That’s why Ronaldinho and Deco were sold in 2008. Because they (Barcelona) were afraid that they would bring down Lionel Messi.”

But Deco is now back at the Camp Nou having signed a three-year deal as the club’s new sporting director, replacing Mateu Alemany who leaves at the end of the summer transfer window.

Upon expecting his new role, Deco said: “Well, returning to the club for me is something magnificent.

“I was here as a player. As a kid I used to dream of playing here. I’ve fulfilled my dream.

“I’ve been part of the club’s history and am now returning here in a different role, an important role, a sporting director role, understanding the club’s scope, understanding the size of this club, the work involved.

“I’m very happy about the president’s [Joan Laporta] project, from the beginning I’ve been observing it closely from the outside. And now, officially, I’m more part of the idea each day, that’s why I’m content.

“Yes, there’s a lot of work, but Barca is always a club that generates work. We have, in my opinion, a spectacular squad, young talents. We have a future, we have talent now.

“We’ve won the league, we need to continue on this path and keep working.”

After his playing career, Deco went on to become an agent, representing players including Raphinha, who joined Barcelona last summer, and former Liverpool star Fabinho.

Now 45 years old, Deco’s responsibilities will be ”setting FC Barcelona’s sporting philosophy and putting together the squad with the coach and the coaching and becoming head of the football section”.

The details of the club’s restructuring are yet to be disclosed but it’s a massive task given the crippling financial struggles Barca have experienced in recent years.

Deco’s attitude will no doubt be far different in his new position than what he had as a player.

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