Spanish football finds itself amidst transfer chaos. A potential move by Nico Williams to Barcelona has sparked a heated conflict between Athletic Bilbao and the reigning La Liga champions.
Barcelona’s interest in the talented Spanish winger is no secret. Sporting director Deco openly admitted to local newspaper “Sport” that the club is actively pursuing Nico Williams.
However, the Basque club is pulling out all the stops, accusing the Catalans of breaking the rules on Nico Williams’ transfer.
These words prompted an immediate response from Athletic Bilbao, who announced in a Wednesday statement that they would defend their rights and investigate a potential breach of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations by Barcelona.
Bilbao’s battle with Barcelona
The Bilbao-based club demands transparency in transfer dealings and accuses their rivals of attempting to circumvent the 1:1 rule, according to Sports.
In addition to releasing an official statement, they organised a meeting with La Liga and Spanish Football Federation representatives. They stated that the discussions focused on Barcelona’s transfer capabilities and the necessity of adhering to competition rules.
According to Basque media, Nico Williams’s release clause is valued at €62 million. Athletic has made it clear they will not make any concessions and refuse to negotiate any eased payment terms.
President Jon Uriarte emphasised that instalments or other forms of agreement are out of the question, and the transfer can only happen if the clause is activated in full.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta, however, makes no secret of his belief that the fee is appropriate for a player of Williams’s quality. He added that the club is simply exploring market options, similar to previous transfers, like that of Joan Garcia.
The player himself has yet to take a definitive stance. Although Bayern Munich is also rumoured to be interested, Williams has reportedly ruled out a move to the Bundesliga. His reticence and the fact that his locker at Athletic remains untouched may suggest a desire to stay in Bilbao.