Barcelona have been aggressively pushing to bring Athletic Club winger Nico Williams to Camp Nou, but the operation has hit multiple snags, mainly surrounding financial regulations and registration guarantees that the player has demanded. Although there remains hope of reaching an agreement, Marca suggests that the challenges involved are greater than initially anticipated.
Athletic Club pulled a fast one on Barcelona for the second year running as the Basque club announced that they had tied down Nico Williams to a 10-year contract. The Spain international had been linked with a move to the Catalan side this summer with personal term reportedly having been agreed. However, the club had been waiting to achieve 1:1 with La Liga's financial rules before making the move.
Jude Bellingham gave a brutal response as Nico Williams snubbed a move to Barcelona in favour of an Athletic Club stay. The Spanish winger infuriated the Camp Nou hierarchy after choosing loyalty over glamour after he turned down a high-profile move to the Blaugranas and instead penned a long-term extension with his boyhood club.
Barcelona were running out of patience with Nico Williams and his agent before the Spain international commited his future to Athletic Club by signing a new long-term contract. Williams was once again closely linked with a move to the Blaugrana this summer after transfer talks broke down last year, however, the winger eventually penned a new Atheltic Club contract which runs until 2035.
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.
Nico Williams snubbed an offer from Barcelona earlier this summer as he decided to sign a fresh long-term contract with Athletic Club. The Spanish winger stunned the world when he announced that he had penned a 10-year deal with his boyhood club. The news came as a major blow to the Catalans, who were desperate to sign the 23-year-old.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta heaped praise on new signing Viktor Gyokeres, who scored his first goal for the Gunners since his move to North London from Sporting CP this summer. The Premier League giants thrashed La Liga side Athletic Club 3-0 in their final pre-season friendly courtesy of goals from Gyokeres, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz.