Are you 24 or older?

Help us verify your age by providing an honest response. This site contains gambling advertising for 24+.

Age-restricted content

You’re not old enough to view betting content. You’ll be redirected to the homepage.

alt
LiveTickets
This page contains affiliate links. When you purchase through the links provided, we may earn a commission.
GFX Javier Tebas Nico Williams Joan LaportaGetty/GOAL
Soham Mukherjee

Nico Williams move sabotaged?! La Liga chief accused of sharing confidential financial information which led to collapse of proposed Barcelona transfer

N. Williams
Barcelona
Transfers
LaLiga
Athletic Bilbao

La Liga president Javier Tebas finds himself at the center of fresh controversy following claims that he may have deliberately hindered Barcelona’s attempt to sign Spain international Nico Williams this summer. The shocking accusation comes amid reports that confidential financial data relating to Barcelona was shared with Athletic Bilbao officials, allegedly swaying Williams’ decision to remain at his boyhood club.

Advanced protection across 11 devices with high-speed VPN
ExpressVPN

Advanced

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 12 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 73%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for three days in 150+ destinations.

Over 28 monthsSave 73%
Protect 14 devices with the top ExpressVPN plan
ExpressVPN

Pro

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's top-tier Express Pro plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 14 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is included with the Express Pro plan.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers an unlimited private email relay plus an unlimited number of shared aliases and 20 custom domains, ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator, and ExpressAI, an AI assistant that offers 500 credits a day, six AI models, a web search facility plus 2GB storage.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save around 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 67%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for five days in 150+ destinations.

Over 28 monthsSave 67%
Protect 10 devices with high-speed VPN
ExpressVPN

Basic

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 10 different devices simultaneously, and offers Lite Protection that blocks ads and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.

Over 28 monthsSave 80%
Advanced protection across 11 devices with high-speed VPN
ExpressVPN

Advanced

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 12 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 73%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for three days in 150+ destinations.

Over 28 monthsSave 73%
Protect 14 devices with the top ExpressVPN plan
ExpressVPN

Pro

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's top-tier Express Pro plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 14 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is included with the Express Pro plan.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers an unlimited private email relay plus an unlimited number of shared aliases and 20 custom domains, ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator, and ExpressAI, an AI assistant that offers 500 credits a day, six AI models, a web search facility plus 2GB storage.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save around 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 67%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for five days in 150+ destinations.

Over 28 monthsSave 67%
Protect 10 devices with high-speed VPN
ExpressVPN

Basic

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 10 different devices simultaneously, and offers Lite Protection that blocks ads and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.

Over 28 monthsSave 80%
Advanced protection across 11 devices with high-speed VPN
ExpressVPN

Advanced

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 12 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 73%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for three days in 150+ destinations.

Over 28 monthsSave 73%

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

  • Williams snubbed Barcelona for a second time
  • Signed a ten-year extension with Athletic
  • Tebas finds himself at the centre of controversy
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Williams, who had attracted serious interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Barcelona, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich, stunned the football world by signing a contract extension with Athletic. The new agreement not only ties the 21-year-old winger to the Basque side for 10 more years but also significantly raises his release clause by 50 per cent, from €58 million (£50m/$68m) to €87m (£75m/$102m).

  • SPORTEL Monaco 2024 - Global Sports Media & Technology Convention - Day TwoGetty Images Sport

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Before the renewal, Barcelona appeared to be in pole position, reportedly close to reaching terms with Williams and showing intent to meet his then-existing release clause. However, this promising transfer quickly unravelled. Miguel Galan, the president of Spain’s National Centre for Football Coaches (CENAFE), publicly accused Tebas of breaching protocol. Galan claims that during a private meeting with Athletic representatives, Tebas revealed sensitive financial documents and audit reports belonging to Barcelona.

    Moreover, La Liga's president allegedly stated that the club lacked the necessary liquidity or financial room within the league’s salary cap structure (LCPD) to register new signings under financial fair play guidelines. A report by auditing firm Crowe Auditores Espana was also reportedly presented to bolster these claims.

  • WHAT GALAN SAID

    Galan wrote on X: "Meeting of @AthleticClub with @Tebasjavier revealing confidential information about @FCBarcelona_es. Today I was able to learn what was said in the famous meeting between @Tebasjavier and @AthleticClub.

    "At said meeting, the president of @AthleticClub was shown the information from FC Barcelona's interim financial statements, allowing him to verify on-site that the profit and loss statement did not reflect any amount related to the corporate operation of selling VIP seats. Furthermore, the president of LaLiga explicitly reported on the reduction of FC Barcelona's LCPD and that it had neither the balance nor the capacity for registration, in compliance with financial fair play. Finally, he also presented the limited review report signed by Crowe Auditores España SL.

    "According to the confidential information that was revealed to Athletic Club de Bilbao, a situation arose in which Nico Williams requested an additional guarantee in the form of a release clause. FC Barcelona, acting with good judgment, was not willing to accept said condition. Consequently, the non-signing of Nico Williams is attributed solely to the distrust generated by the president of LaLiga toward the player's agent, as well as toward the player himself and his family.

    "Following the meeting between the president of LaLiga and the president of Athletic Club de Bilbao, confidential financial information about FC Barcelona was provided to Nico Williams, which was exaggerated in order to generate concern in the player's family and attempt to convince them to include a release clause that lacked any logic."

    • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

    Follow GOAL on Google

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Following this alleged information exchange, Athletic's top brass reportedly relayed the financial concerns to Williams and his advisors. The revelation prompted the winger’s camp to request a conditional release clause in any potential Barcelona agreement, a clause the Blaugrana board was unwilling to accommodate, citing the lack of precedent or legal logic for such a condition.

  • GFX Joan Laporta Nico WilliamsGetty/GOAL

    WHAT NEXT?

    Losing out on Williams is a significant blow for Barcelona, especially given how close they were to sealing the deal. Williams would have been a tactical fit for new manager Hansi Flick, offering pace, versatility, and chemistry with Lamine Yamal, his Spain teammate.

    Barcelona, already grappling with several financial challenges, are now left scrambling for alternatives in the market. One name circulating as a possible replacement is Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, who has been loosely linked with a move to the Nou Camp in the past.

Next matches
BAR

BAR

LaLiga

31 Oct 2026

ALA

ALA

ATH

ATH

LaLiga

01 Nov 2026

RSO

RSO