In a candid reflection during a recent interview, Barcelona sporting director Deco opened up about Vitor Roque’s difficult adaptation to life at Camp Nou, while also sharing his thoughts on football legends Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Speaking on the young Brazilian striker, Deco expressed both sympathy and regret over the timing of Roque’s arrival:
“I honestly feel sorry for Vitor Roque. His move to Barcelona in January didn’t do him any favors. He came in during a complicated part of the season, and although he started well scoring a few goals things quickly became difficult. The pressure of performing at a club like Barça is immense, especially for someone so young.”
Deco believes that had Roque joined under the current structure, he might have fared better:
“If he had arrived this summer instead, with our new coaching staff and physical preparation team already in place, he might have had a much smoother transition.”
The Portuguese-Brazilian also touched on one of football’s eternal debates Ronaldinho vs. Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo having had the rare privilege of playing alongside all three in the early stages of their careers.
“I played with both Messi and Cristiano when they were just starting out, and they were already showing incredible promise. But if I had to choose based on who was at their absolute best when I played with them, I’d say Ronaldinho. He was pure magic unstoppable, joyful, and unpredictable.”
Yet, when asked who he considers the most complete player, Deco didn’t hesitate:
“For me, Messi is the most complete footballer the game has ever seen. His vision, intelligence, goalscoring, and playmaking ability—he has everything. No one else comes close in terms of overall impact on the game.”
Deco’s insights provide a rare, firsthand perspective on the pressures young talents face at elite clubs and the unique brilliance of football’s most iconic names
