Athletic Club Raises Concerns
Athletic Club has raised concerns with LaLiga regarding FC Barcelona‘s compliance with financial fair play regulations as the Catalan club aims to acquire winger Nico Williams. Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, revealed last weekend that Williams, who has a release clause set at €58 million, is eager to join Barcelona this summer.
Barcelona’s Optimism
On Wednesday, Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, expressed optimism that the club would successfully add two new players to their roster—goalkeeper Joan García, secured from Espanyol for €25 million last week, alongside Williams—while also navigating LaLiga’s financial constraints.
Athletic Club’s Statement
In a statement released on Thursday, Athletic Club acknowledged LaLiga’s cooperation during a meeting held in Madrid, which involved Athletic’s president Jon Uriarte and LaLiga’s Javier Tebas. This meeting was prompted by Athletic’s inquiries regarding adherence to financial fair play after Deco openly disclosed Barcelona’s intention to sign a player currently under contract with Athletic until June 2027.
“Seeking clarifications helps ensure that competition regulations are upheld,”
the statement noted.
Barcelona’s Position
Deco’s recent comments align with Laporta’s admission that Barcelona is seeking ways to meet LaLiga’s financial requirements for player registrations—a situation that has drawn significant attention and criticism from other clubs, including Athletic. Laporta, however, feels perplexed by Athletic’s actions, stating,
“I don’t understand why they would go to LaLiga to speak about Barça, which is nothing to do with them. Everyone should focus on their own business.”
Ongoing Discussions
Despite Athletic’s inquiry and insistence on defending their interests aligned with LaLiga’s established financial guidelines, they did not disclose the outcome of their discussions with the league. The situation bears resemblance to previous controversies when several Spanish clubs contested Barcelona’s ability to register new players amidst claims that the club was exceeding its fair play limits. Laporta contends that Barcelona is in a better position now and can finalize both signings as planned.
Nico Williams’ Future
Nico Williams, a 22-year-old Spain international, has expressed his desire to leave Athletic Club this summer. While his agent hinted at this sentiment to the club, no specific destination has been revealed. Barcelona had attempted to sign Williams last summer, but the deal fell through due to concerns over player registration, leading to the acquisition of Dani Olmo instead. Williams has been a key player for Athletic, making 167 appearances since his debut in 2021, often playing alongside his brother Iñaki at San Mamés.
