Barcelona Restructures Scouting Department to Enhance Global Talent Discovery

Barcelona has initiated a new phase in its scouting management starting July, as part of a plan aimed at enhancing the talent discovery system both in Spain and abroad, through extensive modifications to the department's administrative structure and several new appointments.

According to Spanish newspaper "Sport", João Amaral, who took charge of the scouting department last summer, is leading a comprehensive restructuring within the section, adopting a different approach focused on field monitoring of emerging talents and direct involvement in evaluating players of interest to Barcelona.

The report added that the club aims to expand its international operations, having bolstered its squad during the last winter transfer window with several young talents, including Patricio Pacifico, Jovensly Onstein, and Ajay Tavares, while continuing to monitor promising names like Australian Lucas Herington and Belgian Jesse Pisio.

The new structure has seen Danielli Placido appointed as the head of the emerging talents department, after recently serving as the sporting director of Italian club Modena. He will be responsible for discovering players aged between 16 and 21, while Roger Porta and Jordi Viazon have joined to strengthen the scouting network with their expertise in tracking talents both in Spain and abroad.

Meanwhile, Barcelona has retained several of its staff within the department, including Bruno, who is responsible for monitoring talents in Brazil, and Chicho Rojo, tasked with following matches in Spain's first and second divisions, to ensure the continuity of technical work within the section.

Sport also noted that the new structure has seen the departure of several names, most notably David Fernandez after being appointed sporting director of Real Oviedo, alongside Frenchman Jérôme Piguet and Portuguese Pedro Charana, in a move that reflects the beginning of a new phase aimed at enhancing Barcelona's efficiency in discovering and attracting young talents before they are snatched up by major European clubs.