The unexpected announcement has had a bomb in Spain. Last Friday, Nico Williams officially extended his contract until 2035 at the Athletic Bilbao, while his transfer to FC Barcelona was announced as acted for weeks, or even several months. A huge camouflet for the Blaugrana staff, who could not guarantee the young international winger (22 years old) his registration in La Liga next season.
How could this soap opera have ended like this? This is a question that everyone is asking the other side of the Pyrenees. And five days later, the manager of this fiasco has just been publicly appointed. According to Miguel Galan, president of the National Training Center for Spanish coaches, the culprit is none other than the president of La Liga, Javier Tebas, who would have disclosed the Basque leaders crucial information.
“Javier Tebas, in his capacity as president of the Liga,” made public statements indicating that FC Barcelona could not record Nico Williamshe says. He also held meetings with Athletic Bilbao during which he would have disclosed confidential information. In this context, the player's agent, influenced and frightened by Javier Tebas, asked for the inclusion of a release clause in case the recording is not effective. »»
The transfer of Nico Williams sabotaged in high places
It is this last-minute requirement that would have hung up the pre-agreement between Barça and the 2024 European champion with La Roja. “The request (to make a contract like that of Dani Olmo, editor's note) was rejected by the board of directors of FC Barcelona, chaired by Joan Laporta, who considered such a condition to be unnecessary to lose 60 million euros,” continues Miguel Galan, who aims for another speaker in this case.
“The agent (Félix Angel Tainta, editor's note) was the factor that precipitated the failure of an operation that seemed to be completed, because he acts to defend the interests of Athletic Bilbao, especially if we consider that the agent has economic interests linked to other players from this institution”he concludes. So this is how Nico Williams' signature at Barça ended up turning into an extension for an additional eight seasons in Bilbao.
