Why Deco’s Xavi Simons chase is an utter waste of time for Barcelona

News this week that Deco had, apparently, met with representatives of La Masia graduate, Xavi Simons, was met with incredulity from Barca fans.

Under normal circumstances, making a move for the 22-year-old would make perfect sense.

Schooled at the club during his formative years, he already has extensive elite level experience despite his young age. Furthermore, his skill set is perfectly in tune with what Barcelona need from their attacking midfielders.

However, it’s abundantly clear that we’re still a long, long way away from anything approaching ‘normal’ at the club.

Whatever the machinations of a potential transfer for Nico Williams, it seems that a potential failure to meet Athletic’s buyout clause and concerns over registering the Spain star were behind why the player decided to stay with Los Leones at the 11th hour.

No one is surely going to believe the party line trotted out by the player that he wants to make history with Athletic because he would’ve had a much better chance of doing so at Barca.

But that’s a side issue.

Xavi Simons isn’t going to arrive for the simple fact that RB Leipzig want to extract even more from the pot - €70m in fact.

That’s so far beyond the Catalans at the moment that one should treat the idea that Simons could sign with nothing more than contempt.

Not to mention that there’s already an overbooking in midfield, with Hansi Flick having his work cut out finding enough regular football to keep stars such as Fermin Lopez, Gavi and Dani Olmo happy.

If Deco was intent on integrating Simons, then multiple outgoings would have to be underwritten and that in itself destabilises the squad before a ball has even been kicked in anger in the 2025/26 season.

On top of the news that the team might have to play the first half of the campaign back at Montjuic, it’s yet more ‘news’ that does the club no favours whatsoever.

One can’t help but feel that a lack of credibility has befallen the current administration and if Barca want to be taken seriously, that needs to change quickly.

With regards to transfers, culers will, of course, want to see the club competing at the top table - but only if the signings make sense and are realistic.

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