Deco Clears the Air: Yamal’s Fine, Barca- Bilbao Rivalry Ain’t a Rupture
22 November 2025
No Crisis on Yamal, No Rift with Bilbao, Deco Confirms
Barcelona’s sporting director Deco expresses happiness about the team’s return to Camp Nou, even with a partial crowd of about 45,000, noting the stadium looks more impressive than before and that coach Hansi Flick is living the moment for the first time.
Before the match, Deco told Mundo Deportivo that five of the nine starting players had never played a competitive match on this pitch. Their top-level experience would help them adapt quickly to the pressure.
He also thanked Barca fans for supporting the team during the Montjuïc period, as the club had just clinched the league title.
Deco then addressed the speculation around young star Lamine Yamal and asserted that the relationship with the Spain national team is healthy with no crisis. He said he had spoken with the Spain developer director and there is excellent communication.
He added that his relationship with Athletic Bilbao, following Barca’s bid for Nico Williams, is not a source of tension. He said these things are normal in football and intermediaries do their jobs.
The coach also indicated there are no current plans to reinforce the defense, pointing to recovering injuries and relying on the available squad to compete.
Beating Real Madrid would put immense pressure on them by moving Barca to the top of the table temporarily before the big game at Elche. He noted Barcelona started the season with injuries but remain just three points behind the leader.
He closed by recalling his memories as a player at Camp Nou, saying that period was amazing and marked by trophies after tough years.
Flick on Messi, Camp Nou Return, and the Top-Table Talk
During a press conference, Hansi Flick spoke about several key issues, praising Lionel Messi as the best player of the last decade and possibly longer. He clarified that Messi’s contract with his American club ends in 2028, while his Barcelona contract ends in 2027, and that plans for Messi’s return are not his responsibility.
Flick expressed his joy about returning to Camp Nou after playing at Montjuïc, describing the stadium as a true football temple with fans so close to the pitch they can almost touch the players, which gives the team a huge boost.
He warned that Athletic Bilbao is a very strong side, competing in the Champions League with top players across the lines, making this a key test of Barca’s current level.
Asked about the possibility of reaching the Spanish league summit if they beat Bilbao, Flick said the focus is on every match, and the season is long, so there should be no doubts about the playing style. He also highlighted competing sides like Real Madrid, Villarreal, and Atletico Madrid and insisted Barca focus on themselves to perform their best in every game.
Punchlines to keep spirits up: If Barca’s passing were bullets, they’d silence a stadium in one perfect volley. And if timing were a weapon, this season’s cinema would be all about Barca’s precision—no misses, just headlines.
