Archive June 2, 2025

Despite La Liga’s stringent financial controls, Barcelona sporting director Deco claims that the organization does not need to sell players and that it does not.

Since taking over Barcelona in 2023, Deco, 47, has seen a revival that led to a domestic treble and Champions League semifinal appearances.

In response to a dispute with La Liga, the Catalans renewed the contracts of superstar teenagers Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and manager Hansi Flick. They also received a registration clearance from Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD).

When Deco was asked whether Barcelona should be recognized as a well-run club in 2025, he responded, “Barcelona is my club, I love Barcelona. I was a witness to what transpired outside, and I always believed I could contribute to elevating Barca.

Although it is not a financial issue, the financial fair play regulations in Spain surpass those in the Premier League and other nations, which I knew would be challenging.

You only hear about Barca because we are a sizable club because it is a problem for many clubs. You must work with it, look at how you can strengthen the team, and consider how the combination of La Masia [academy] players and more experienced players is crucial.

The former Portugal midfielder, who played for both Chelsea and Porto, says Barcelona are content playing La Liga but that the rules will keep getting better as they age.

Even if they don’t, Barcelona are excited to sign “one of the biggest contracts in history” with Nike, and the newly renovated 100, 000-seat Nou Camp will increase revenues and increase capacity.

He adds that the team can “grow with many of the same players” because they won’t “sell our best players” and that Barcelona won’t “sell our best players.” However, he claims that because of the team’s stability, they are looking for “two, three, or four signings” without having to “like crazy” enter the market.

When asked if the contract option includes signing Liverpool’s Luis Diaz or Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, he replied, “We have been focusing on renewing contracts, and we will discuss players coming.

We won’t speak because it’s unfair because these two players, as you mentioned, are good but have contracts with their clubs. However, we will undoubtedly discover some names when you decide to visit the market. We don’t need to bring many players, in my opinion.

Everyone wants to come or stay, he added, according to him when I speak with the players’ agents. This is crucial, therefore. The club’s reputation is still strong. We are proud that Barcelona is still a sizable club and that its players are interested in joining because of it.

Real Madrid, who are constantly under new coach Xabi Alonso, are a real threat, Deco is aware of.

Additionally, they have reached deals with Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will depart. Alvaro Carreras, a left-back for Benfica, is reportedly the player on the shortlist.

Because I know that the first Real Madrid team has a lot of top players, he said, “Next season is not going to be easy.” They appear to be a sizable team. They have many outstanding players. They do, of course, want to get better.

“A strong Madrid is very important. Strong players, top players, and players that the people want to see are very important. Similar to us, I believe Madrid has these players.

Yamal made his club debut at the age of 15 and has already made 106 appearances. He was a key player in Barcelona’s four El Clasico victories this season and was a member of Spain’s winning team that won the European Championship. He is the reigning Golden Boy and Kopa winner, which are awards given to the best young player in the world.

He is now compared to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, who is regarded as one of the greatest players in history.

Deco continued, “Lamine is Lamine. Leo is the same. For me, Leo was the best player in club history, and he was also the best player ever.

Everyone goes crazy when they see Lamine playing football because he believes in the project, and you can’t help but watch him because he’s unique. He deserves a higher wage.

He will be one of the world’s best players, he said. He must be respected as a player, but we must remember that he is only 17 years old.

Deco continued, “Lamine can make history like Leo, but it’s not easy to compare.” However, he must have a strong team of his own to make history.

Barcelona would have been able to manage Messimania and provide Yamal with the level of protection he requires.

Because, as you know, sometimes the sponsors and everyone wants his shirt or time, “Deco continued,” we make an effort not to let him do everything. People see his magic, both on and off the pitch, but sometimes we can’t control everything.

In a thrilling battle at Sunday’s Grand Slam Track meet, British Olympian Josh Kerr fought back against Cole Hocker to avenge his 1500-meter defeat.

Hocker thumped Kerr, 27, in Paris last August, claiming both shock victories and Olympic gold.

However, Kerr had a decisive turn in Philadelphia, beating the American by seven hundredths of a second.

Kerr won in a three-minute, 34.44 second best time of the season.

After finishing fifth in the 800m on Saturday, Marco Arop from Canada, who won the 800m, lost by one point to Kerr for the top prize of $100, 000 (£74, 000).

US sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the 100-meter race with an emphatic victory in a time record-setting time.

The 24-year-old Olympic bronze medalist, who ran the distance in a personal best of 10.73 seconds, was able to finish the race without France’s Christine Arron, who is also the fastest woman ever.

Jefferson-Wooden, who also won the 200-meter on Saturday, said, “I’ve been working so hard for this. It means everything.” It’s just all coming together, he said.

Matthew Hudson-Smith of Great Britain won the men’s long sprints group title for the second time in three meets.

The 30-year-old won the 400-meter race in 44.51 on Saturday, earning her the first Grand Slam title since Kingston, Jamaica, in fourth place in the 200-meter race.

Michael Johnson’s new competition, Grand Slam Track, aims to bring together the world’s fastest athletes in order to compete for cash prizes.

-7 M Stark (Swe), -5 N Korda (US), R Taneka (Jpn), -4 H-J Choi (Kor), R Yin (Chi), M Saigo (Jpn), -3 H Cooper (US), H Shibuno (Jpn)

Selected others: -1 C Hull (Eng), + 1 J Lopez Ramirez (Spa), + 2 M Lee (Aus), + 3 L Ko (NZ), + 5 L Woad (Eng), + 9 G Dryburgh (Sco)

Maja Stark became the third Swede to win the trophy at the US Women’s Open after claiming her first major title by two shots.

At Erin Hills in Wisconsin, Stark, the first Swedish champion since Annika Sorenstam won her third title in 2006, defeated Japan’s Rio Taneka and American world number one Nelly Korda.

After winning the round of level-par 72, she said, “This just feels huge.”

There are so many talented golfers on this tour, but you always know it’s possible. I [didn’t] believe I would be able to do it this week.

Simply put, I was afraid to get ahead of myself. I simply felt like people were probably going to pass me because I didn’t want to play a lot of golf, so I had to stay calm throughout.

“Until I was 17 years old, I didn’t look at the leaderboards.” It was visible to me. It was pleasant.

As her playing partner Julia Lopez Ramirez struggled, the 25-year-old started the final round with a one-shot lead before adding her one-shot lead to two with her first birdie of the day in the sixth round.

Korda finished the day at three back after playing the first nine in two under par.

However, Stark birdied the eleventh and Korda’s 13th, taking the lead before going nine under when she picked up a second shot on the fourteenth.

Korda finished with a bogey in her best performance in the US Women’s Open, which was a letdown from the back nine.

Stark was able to rest assured that he would hit the final two holes with more bogeys later.

Korda, who has won two majors, is still looking for her first win since November, and the 26-year-old had mixed emotions following her 71st-round 71st.

She described her relationship with the championship as “still very complicated.” It’s merely a heartbreaking experience.

“Hopefully I can build on this, putting myself in contention for a major and, evidently, coming in only short. Although it hurts a little, I’m pleased with the progress and hope to keep doing it.

Charley Hull, an Englishman, had four birdies and 10 pars in her first 14 holes to top the leaderboard. She had par for the final round. However, she finished joint 12th overall and dropped two more shots on the 17th when she closed with a 71.

Lottie Woad, an Englishwoman, won the title of best amateur after three over 75 at the end of the tournament.

Caoimhin Kelleher, a goalkeeper for Liverpool, will move to Brentford after the clubs have agreed a £12.5 million, plus an additional £18 million fee.

Mark Flekken, the Bees’ number one, is pictured taking the place of the 26-year-old in Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen in the Republic of Ireland.

The 31-year-old Dutchman has agreed to pay an estimated £8 million to the Bundesliga side.

Since making his Liverpool debut five years ago, Kelleher has participated in 25 Premier League games.

In his time at Anfield, he has also won more than 40 cups and two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, two League Cups, and a Uefa Super Cup.

Flekken, a Dutch international, reportedly signed for £11 million from Freiburg for Brentford in May 2023.

Over the previous two seasons, he had more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in the Bundesliga, and his position at Brentford has only improved.