Speaking on RAC1, Barcelona's sporting director addressed a wide range of topics from last summer's transfer window and the club's start to the season, beginning with the Alvarez pursuit that dominated headlines.
"I don't want to talk about it anymore. We did things the right way. We sent an offer, there was no response," Deco said, revealing Barcelona had proposed to pay the Atletico Madrid forward's fee in three instalments.
"It's been talked about more in the press than in reality. Laporta has already explained that he spoke with them respectfully and clearly, and that's it. Barcelona didn't tell him to publicly express his wish to leave Atletico."
On the Ballon d'Or, Deco called the absence of Pedri and Raphinha from the 30-man shortlist "a global scandal," adding: "I don't understand the lists, the voting... individual awards are unfair, football is a collective sport, it's difficult to single things out. Seeing a player like Pedri left out, with the talent he has, I don't understand it."
He was unequivocal about who should win it instead: "Lamine has to be the favourite for everything he's done with Barca and for winning a World Cup. For me, there's no doubt."
Deco also confirmed the club wants to tie down Raphinha long-term, praising how the Brazilian has grown into a leadership role since taking the captain's armband.
"That's a construction, it doesn't happen overnight. He's one of the players we want to stay for many more years, and we'll talk to him," he said, while insisting there was no urgency over a new out-and-out striker: "We're not obsessed with the number nine. I don't think we're short of a goalscorer."
Asked about Rodri's arrival from Manchester City, Deco described a deal that came together unexpectedly.
"At first we thought there was no way he'd leave City, that it was impossible. The moment we heard he might, the first thing we did was call their sporting director to confirm it," he said. He explained Anthony Gordon's signing similarly pragmatically, noting Barcelona's energy dipped whenever Raphinha was absent last season, and that "signing in the Premier League is almost impossible given the numbers involved" — Gordon simply fit the profile required.
On Real Madrid midfielder Bernardo Silva, who was strongly linked with a move to Camp Nou, Deco confirmed interest was real but ultimately incompatible with Barcelona's plans.
"He's a phenomenal player, one of the best in the world in recent years, but it wasn't the position we were looking for," he said. "We can't stray from our own ideas."
Elsewhere, Deco heaped praise on young centre-back Pau Cubarsi, calling him "the Lamine of central defenders — the most impressive talent out there right now," and addressed Ferran Torres's PSG move philosophically: "Players at Barca have to be happy and at one hundred per cent. If someone wants to leave, we have to listen."
On facing Real Madrid this season, Deco kept it simple: "They have great players and a great coach. I wish them luck, just not against us."