Deco announces professional football area will manage Barça Atlètic

Barcelona's football director Deco announced on Thursday that Barça Atlètic will now be managed directly by the professional sporting department he leads, with Bojan Krkic as a key figure in the coordination. The decision is designed to bring the reserve team closer to the daily routine of Hansi Flick's first team and to improve the club's approach to contracts and the transfer market.

• Barça Atlètic will be controlled by the professional sporting area led by Deco.
• Bojan Krkic will take on a prominent role in coordinating the reserve side.
• Training methodology will be shared with Hansi Flick's first team.
• The club aims to improve contract management for promising young players.
• The move targets better sporting performance and greater financial returns from the academy.

Deco explains the new role of Barça Atlètic within the club

Deco stressed that Barça Atlètic represents the final step before the first team and therefore deserves special attention. The football director argued for a deeper integration so that players moving up to train with the senior squad do not face a sudden change in demands and playing style.

He also noted that Barcelona does not have a network of partner clubs or stable loan agreements to develop young players elsewhere. As a result, the club wants to make the most of the reserve team using the same philosophy applied to the senior side.

Shared methodology with Hansi Flick and the first team

Technical coordination is one of the pillars of the change. The plan is for the Barça Atlètic coach and the first-team staff to maintain fluid communication about playing ideas, workload management and physical preparation. Deco insisted that there cannot be one philosophy for the seniors and a different one for the reserves.

That alignment should make it easier for any reserve player to step into Hansi Flick's setup whenever he is needed during the season. The goal is to anticipate requirements and reduce the usual adaptation period when players move between levels.

Market strategy and contract control at La Masia

Deco linked the decision to a broader market strategy. The club wants to increase the value of players developed at La Masia and turn them into assets capable of generating revenue, either through strategic contract renewals or profitable exits when they do not fit into the elite squad.

The football director admitted that recent years had produced situations where the renewal of young talents lacked proper control. Under the new model, contracts for the academy's brightest prospects will need to follow a coherent long-term plan aligned with the first team's needs.

Bojan Krkic as Deco's right hand in reserve team coordination

Bojan Krkic, a product of La Masia with deep knowledge of the club, will take on a significant role in implementing this new structure. His presence will serve as a bridge between the professional sporting department and the daily operations of Barça Atlètic, strengthening the connection with coaches and players.

The appointment reflects confidence in profiles who understand the club's values from within and know what it takes to make the jump to the first team.

What Barcelona stands to gain from the new reserve team setup

The success of the measure will be judged on two fronts: sporting and financial. On the pitch, reserve players are expected to reach the first team with a tactical and physical understanding much closer to what Flick demands. Financially, the priority is to secure the most promising projects and generate capital gains from players who leave.

The season will serve as a test of whether the integration narrows the gap between levels and whether the unified approach delivers results through minutes, call-ups and well-managed contracts.

Frequently asked questions about the new Barça Atlètic management