Deco rules out Barcelona key duo’s exit in the summer: “We want to keep them”

Just minutes before Barcelona’s game against Getafe kicked off at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, the club’s sporting director Deco interacted briefly with the media and ruled out the summer exits of key duo Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong.

Over the past few weeks, there has been a lot of speculation about the futures of both Araujo and De Jong.

De Jong, Araujo will not be sold, says Deco

Considering that Barcelona need at least one major sale in the summer to address their Financial Fair Play issue, the aforementioned two names have been touted as possible sacrificial lambs, due to the interest they are generating and the fee they would command.

Araujo has emerged as a priority target for Bayern Munich, while multiple top clubs like PSG, Manchester United, and Tottenham are eyeing De Jong.

Both players have already clarified they are happy at Barcelona and want to continue, and Deco also echoed the same sentiment.

“Nothing will happen, they have contracts and we want to keep them,” the Barcelona director said. “The big clubs always want to have the best players and keep them,” he added.

Deco rules out selling Araujo, De Jong. (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)

On Xavi’s successor, Barça DNA

Apart from the topic of Araujo and De Jong, Deco was also quizzed about Barcelona’s search for a new manager to replace Xavi Hernandez at the end of the season. In response, he said:

“Every week we’re not going to be asking the same questions, we have to think about the game at hand, because between now and the end of the season there will always be important games.”

But he insisted that the club would look for someone who can carry forward the Barça DNA, saying: “Barça’s DNA has always been to have top quality players and the style has always been maintained, so there’s no argument about that.

“Many coaches have been here and the best players in history have passed through this club and the idea has always been to play beautiful football.”

The Barcelona director also had some words of praise for striker Robert Lewandowski, as he highlighted his “professionalism” and his ability “to help the youngsters”.

“He’s an involved professional of the kind I’ve seen very few and we’re lucky to have him,” he said.

Source: Mundo Deportivo