"You're mistaken about Joao Pedro." Deco didn't hedge, didn't soften it — Barcelona's director went straight to the point when Marca brought up the rumours linking the Chelsea striker to the Blaugranas.
That's a significant denial, considering reports had escalated to suggesting Barcelona were plotting a €100 million move for the 24-year-old. Whoever was feeding that story wasn't getting it from the Camp Nou boardroom.
A real problem, even without Pedro
The denial doesn't make Barcelona's situation any less complicated. Lewandowski's departure is now confirmed after four years, and Deco wasn't pretending otherwise. "It's almost impossible to replace Robert," he admitted — which is either honest or deeply concerning depending on how much faith you have in Barcelona's recruitment.
The club's actual targets appear to be Harry Kane at Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, with Alvarez looking like the primary one. Both come with serious price tags and their own complications — Kane's age, Alvarez's standing at Atletico. Neither is a straightforward deal.
Deco's reference to Ferran Torres — "came as a winger and became a number 9" — reads less like a compliment and more like a warning that Barcelona might once again ask a non-striker to fill the role. That's not a strategy that inspires confidence, and any optimism around their attacking odds next season should be tempered accordingly.
What this means for Pedro
For Pedro, the door to Barcelona looks shut — at least officially. Chelsea have no interest in selling, especially with Xabi Alonso arriving and a squad rebuild underway. The Brazilian had a quietly remarkable season: 15 Premier League goals carrying a Chelsea side that offered him almost nothing around him, 20 in all competitions across 49 games.
His exclusion from Ancelotti's Brazil squad despite those numbers has been the real headline around him lately. If Barcelona aren't coming, and Chelsea aren't selling, Pedro heads into next season exactly where he is — productive, underappreciated, and waiting for the moment his situation finally matches his output.
