Barcelona have identified 18 emerging talents in three years under Deco and Joao Amaral

Barcelona have identified 18 young talents over three years through the recruitment efforts of Deco and scouting chief Joao Amaral. The club's strategy focuses on finding promising players from various regions, including Europe, Africa, South America, and the United States, before they become sought-after by other European giants.

This shift in approach stems from financial limitations that prevented Barcelona from competing in major bidding wars for highly-rated prospects. Deco and Amaral have taken a proactive stance by identifying players at earlier stages of their development, preventing their value from skyrocketing. The recruitment strategy has resulted in a diverse group of identified talents, including Mika Faye, Mamadou Mbacke, Noah Darvich, David Oduro, and others.

While the outcomes have been mixed, with some players making a significant impact and others still developing, the overall goal is to create young talent whose value can either increase or generate income through potential sales. This dual purpose is crucial for Barcelona, as it allows the club to generate revenue while also bolstering its first-team options.

The success of this strategy will be determined by how many of these prospects progress to the first team or achieve significant transfer value. Nevertheless, Barcelona's objective remains clear: to move earlier in the talent cycle, securing young players before they become established European targets.