Revealed: Why Barcelona failed to sign Nico Williams as club failed to give 'guarantees' to Athletic Club star

Sport reports that Barcelona failed to convince Williams to move to Camp Nou for a variety of reasons, namely his loyalty to Athletic, but also their failure to guarantee his registration for the opening games of the season. Dani Olmo, their marquee summer signing from RB Leipzig, missed their first two La Liga fixtures because he was not registered.

Williams was open to the idea of moving to Barcelona, per the report, and was excited at the prospect of playing alongside Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde, two of his close friends. Barca were planning to pay his €62m (£52m/$69m) release clause after selling Ansu Fati but were also unable to find a buyer for the former Brighton loanee.

Williams has scored once for Athletic thus far this season, in a 3-2 win over Las Palmas. He has already played against Barca once, on matchday two, but was on the wrong end of a 2-1 defeat.

Williams will next be in action when Athletic play Roma in the Europa League on Thursday. Barcelona play Getafe on Wednesday in La Liga on Wednesday.