Deco Denies João Pedro Talks But Confirms Osimhen and Álvarez Remain Barcelona Transfer Targets

Barcelona’s sporting director Deco has moved to correct the record on the club’s striker pursuit, dismissing media reports that placed him in London for talks with Chelsea forward João Pedro’s entourage ahead of the summer transfer window.

“I didn’t go to see Joao Pedro; you are all mistaken,” Deco told reporters, flatly contradicting speculation that had circulated regarding a trip to England to advance negotiations with the Brazilian international. Despite the denial, Deco confirmed that Pedro has not been removed from Barcelona’s list of candidates as the club searches for a long-term centre-forward solution.

The urgency of that search stems from the imminent departure of Robert Lewandowski, whose contract at Camp Nou expires at the end of the current season. The Polish striker has been a cornerstone of Barcelona’s attack since arriving from Bayern Munich in 2022, and Deco acknowledged the considerable challenge of sourcing a comparable replacement in the current market.

Recent reports had suggested Barcelona’s well-documented financial constraints had effectively ruled out a move for Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez, with Victor Osimhen — currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli — framed as a fallback option rather than a primary target. Deco pushed back firmly against that characterisation.

“We are not ruling out or signing anyone. We are talking about it,” he stated, indicating that the club’s hierarchy continues to hold internal discussions without having committed to or eliminated any specific candidate.

Osimhen’s situation adds further complexity to the picture. According to Pulse Sports, Galatasaray’s president recently revealed that personal funds from his own company were used to facilitate the Nigeria international’s loan move from Napoli — a detail that underlines the financial arrangements surrounding any permanent deal. Osimhen, who scored prolifically for Napoli during their Serie A title-winning 2022-23 campaign, has been one of European football’s most sought-after strikers over the past two seasons.

Álvarez, meanwhile, joined Atlético Madrid from Manchester City in the summer of 2024 in a deal worth a reported €75 million. Prising him away from Diego Simeone’s side would represent a significant financial undertaking, one that Barcelona’s current economic position makes complicated — though Deco’s comments suggest the club is not prepared to publicly close that door.

João Pedro has established himself as a consistent performer in the Premier League since joining Chelsea, and his profile as a technically adept, mobile striker aligns with the style Barcelona have sought to implement under their current setup. His inclusion alongside Osimhen and Álvarez in the conversation illustrates the breadth of targets the Catalan club is monitoring rather than any singular preferred outcome.

With the summer window approaching, Barcelona’s striker situation will be one of the most closely watched transfer storylines in European football. Deco’s comments suggest the club is in an active assessment phase, with no definitive decision made on any of the names in contention.