FC Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, recently addressed the growing rumors surrounding a potential move for Erling Haaland to the club in 2026. In an interview with *Mundo Deportivo*, Deco firmly clarified that the club is not currently focused on recruiting a new striker.
“Finding a striker of Robert Lewandowski’s caliber is extremely difficult,” Deco said. “There may be one or two players like Haaland available, but they are few and far between. However, we’re not obsessed with signing a striker right now. Our main focus is on what Robert Lewandowski can bring to the team.”
Deco expressed confidence in Lewandowski’s future at Barcelona, suggesting the Polish striker is likely happy at the club. “Robert is a winner, and if we have a strong season, he will likely want to stay with us. We have to assess whether Haaland would be the right option for the future, but that’s not something we need to decide today. Right now, we don’t need a ‘number 9’ because we already have Robert, and there are no plans to add another striker.”
Additionally, Deco briefly addressed rumors linking Barcelona to Viktor Gyökeres, stating that while the Swedish forward is a solid player with a strong record in Portugal, he is not currently a priority for the club. “We’re not looking for a ‘number 9’ to replace Robert. Our goal is for him to stay, continue scoring, and contribute to the team’s success for at least another season. We’ve won trophies with him, and he’s happy here. There are no discussions about signing other players at the moment.”
With Barcelona focused on their current squad, it seems the club is committed to supporting Lewandowski in the coming seasons, without any immediate plans to pursue a new forward.
