[2008] Did we get the right price for Deco?

this post was published exactly one year ago:


Was 10 million euro° enough for former Barcelona midfielder Deco?

Asked about the transfer fee Chelsea paid for him, Deco said in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that the fee is the consequence of the statements made by the technical department and the board of the club:

"In a way, what has happened is the result of how they have dealt with the situation. If you say that you're not counting on a player, you cannot ask too much for him afterwards. On the other hand, if that wouldn't have been the case, Chelsea wouldn't have signed me."

Barcelona economic vice president Ferran Soriano said at a press conference that Barcelona has sold Deco for a good price: "The price that Chelsea has paid is the right price if you look at the value of the player, the fact that he's 31 years old and that we didn't receive other offers. If a player who we bought at the top of his game for 18 million euro, is sold after four years for 10 million euro, I think that's a success."

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain agreed with that view: "Deco is 31 years old. He played at an incredible level the first two years but he wasn't that good during the last two. I sincerely think that 10 million euro is the right market price. Also because we only had an offer from Chelsea on the table.

If we would have received other offers, we would have been able to negotiate, although we knew that the player really wanted to go to Chelsea because of his good relationship with their new manager Scolari. We've reached the best deal possible, we're very satisfied with the great sporting benefits in the past and the good economic benefits now."


Read more 7 July 2008 news:
Eto'o will leave
2007-2008: The transfer fees
Hleb likely to leave Arsenal