Barcelona blends observation and intuition to identify talent

Numbers do not tell the whole story in Barcelona’s search for talent. João Amaral, who leads the club’s talent identification department, says its approach combines data analysis, on-field observation and intuition, while also considering players’ personalities and social environments.

That approach is reflected in the club’s assessment tools. Barcelona has dropped a numerical rating from zero to ten, which it considered subjective, and replaced it with descriptive reports covering physical, technical and tactical aspects, alongside a summary of a player’s performance in a match.

Amaral believes that relying too heavily on data can leave important details unnoticed. In his view, watching players directly helps reveal tactical and behavioural qualities that recordings may not show clearly. The challenge, he has also said, is not to find players who are already well known, but to identify talent that fits the team’s needs and style of play. He stresses that scouts should record their observations when they see signs of exceptional ability.

According to Amaral, the process begins by defining technical needs in coordination with sporting director Deco and head coach Hansi Flick. He also cited Brazilian forward Vitor Roque: his qualities matched Barcelona’s style, but the timing of his transfer proved one of the main challenges. “If we do not learn from our mistakes, we will not progress,” Amaral concluded, underlining the value of past experience in future decisions.