João Amaral reveals how Barcelona recruit: data, intuition and live scouting

João Amaral, head of scouting at FC Barcelona, has explained on Footure’s podcast The Pitch Invaders 358 how the club finds talent, backing a model that blends analysis with direct observation. “We rely too much on numbers… and that makes us lose sight of what matters most: intuition, the feeling you get by watching a match live,” he said.

Amaral argues that identifying the “most obvious” players is easy; the real challenge is spotting talent that specifically fits Barça’s needs. He wants scouts to watch players in person and write it down when they “feel in their heart that there’s something special.” He also stresses evaluating the player beyond the pitch, including family and surroundings, and notes that social media forms part of the assessment.

Multi-step recruitment

According to Amaral, the process begins with defining squad needs between Deco (sporting director) and Hansi Flick. From there, the Data Intelligence department sets position-based indicators for an initial filter, with scout follow-ups progressively narrowing the options. In the final phase, data is cross-checked against the technical staff’s requirements, with reports described as “purely descriptive.” Flick’s method also includes constant travel: “Travelling is non-negotiable,” he said.

Amaral adds that Barça removed the “zero to ten” numeric ratings as too subjective, switching to concise descriptive evaluations focused on physical, technical and tactical aspects. As a case study, he cites Vitor Roque: he believes the profile matched the playing idea, but that the main issue was the timing of his arrival in January, when the team was already in full competition. “If we don’t learn from our mistakes, we don’t evolve,” he concluded.