Barcelona sporting director Deco has delivered a sobering verdict on the modern football landscape, stating that Jose Mourinho's iconic Champions League triumph with FC Porto in 2004 is unlikely to ever be repeated. The former Portugal international, who was a pivotal figure in that legendary underdog campaign, points the finger squarely at the contemporary transfer market's relentless pace.
The Unrepeatable Porto Fairytale
Deco was at the heart of Porto's mesmerising European run two decades ago, which saw them defeat Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United en route to the final. There, they overcame AS Monaco to be crowned champions of Europe. This remarkable achievement, masterminded by a young Jose Mourinho, defied all financial and sporting odds.
"Today is more difficult because the market is very aggressive," Deco stated in a recent interview. Reflecting on his own five-year stint at the Estádio do Dragão, he added, "I hope it does [happen again]. I love the city. But it’s not easy for Porto to hold players. I stayed for five years, but a player like me or Ricardo Carvalho, they’d stay two years maximum [today]."
From Porto Underdog to Barcelona Superstar
Deco's starring role in Porto's success, including a goalscoring performance in the final, earned him a £13 million move to Barcelona the very next day, with Ricardo Quaresma moving in the opposite direction as part of the deal. His journey highlighted the shifting dynamics of his career; his first Champions League was won with unfancied underdogs, while his second, with Barcelona in 2006, was achieved alongside global superstars like Ronaldinho.
This firsthand experience of both sides of football's economic divide gives his analysis significant weight. As Barcelona's sporting director, Deco is now intimately involved in the very market he criticises for preventing such fairy tales.
A Sporting Director's Perspective
Deco's path to the Barcelona boardroom was unconventional. After retiring, he first set up a sports agency before being persuaded by club president Joan Laporta to take on an executive role. "It was not my idea to become sporting director," Deco revealed. "After his election, the president always said to me: ‘You need to become sporting director.’"
In his current capacity, Deco also offered insight into another high-profile transfer, commenting on Marcus Rashford's move from Manchester United. "He’s happy with us," Deco said. "Marcus is a fantastic player. He faced the responsibility of becoming an important player at Man United — United, like us, are one of the biggest clubs in the world — too young. He suffered a bit with this change of generation at United too."
The overarching message from Deco remains clear: the financial forces now governing football have created an environment where sustaining a talented squad long enough to achieve a miracle like Porto's 2004 victory is virtually impossible. That achievement, it seems, is destined to remain a unique, unrepeatable piece of football history.
