Deco was speaking to reporters at the margin of Barcelona's La Liga title celebrations, having been approached as the club's senior transfer decision-maker in the days following Lewandowski's announcement that he would leave at the end of the season after four years.
On Álvarez, who is under contract at Atletico Madrid until 2029 with a release clause widely reported to be in the region of €150m, Deco was careful but conspicuously non-dismissive.
"We don't rule out anyone and we don't sign anyone."
When the subject turned to Chelsea's João Pedro — a player whom multiple outlets including L'Equipe have reported Barcelona as their primary attacking target this summer — Deco's response was notably different in tone.
"With João Pedro, you are wrong."
The precise meaning of that statement has generated considerable debate. It may suggest the player is not a target, that talks are more advanced than the media understands, or that the framing of the story is misleading in some other way. Deco declined to elaborate.
On the broader question of replacing a player of Lewandowski's stature, the sporting director was candid about the difficulty of the task.
"It is almost impossible to replace Robert — the best striker of recent years. At Barça it is difficult to replace anyone. But football is like that. Ferran came as a winger and became a nine. Now it is a moment to make decisions and strengthen the team."
Lewandowski announced his departure earlier in the week via social media, leaving for the first time after four seasons in which he scored 119 goals in 192 appearances. He ends his time as the club's second-highest scorer in a single season, behind only Ronaldo Nazario's 1996-97 campaign.
Barcelona's financial constraints remain the central complication for any significant attacking signing. Álvarez's release clause alone would require a structural financial intervention, and any deal for Pedro would require Chelsea to be willing to sell a player they have publicly insisted is not for sale.