Deco Reflects on Vitor Roque’s Struggles and Praises Football Icons
In a recent interview, Barcelona’s sporting director Deco spoke openly about the challenges Vitor Roque has faced since joining the club, while also offering personal insights on three football greats—Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
On Vitor Roque, Deco shared his concern over the timing of the young Brazilian’s transfer:
“I genuinely feel for Roque. His arrival in January wasn’t ideal. It was a tough period for the club, and although he got off to a decent start with some goals, things quickly became more complicated. The weight of expectations at a club like Barcelona is huge, especially for someone so young.”
Deco believes that if Roque had joined the team under the current management, things might have gone differently:
“Had he arrived this summer, with the new coaching setup and improved physical preparation team, he probably would’ve settled in more easily.”
Deco, who had the unique opportunity to play with Ronaldinho, Messi, and Ronaldo early in their careers, also addressed the ongoing debate between the three legends.
“I played alongside Messi and Cristiano when they were just starting, and they were already phenomenal. But if I had to choose the best among them during the time I played, it would be Ronaldinho. He was magic on the pitch—unpredictable, entertaining, and unstoppable.”
However, when it came to naming the most complete footballer, Deco had no doubts:
“Messi is the most complete player I’ve ever seen. His vision, intelligence, scoring, and playmaking abilities—he’s got it all. No one has impacted the game the way he has.”
Through his words, Deco gives us a rare insider perspective—not only on the growing pains young stars face at top clubs like Barcelona but also on the brilliance of three of football’s most iconic players.
