Athletic Club react after agent's revelations about Nico Williams' failed Barcelona move

Athletic Club are dealing with a wave of unrest after Félix Tainta, the agent of Nico Williams, revealed details of the negotiation that nearly took the Spain international to Barcelona. In an appearance on the Los Fulanos podcast, the representative confirmed that the winger prioritized the Catalan club's offer and that the move collapsed because Barcelona could not guarantee his registration. Supporters have reacted with anger to a story that once again puts the future of their biggest star under the spotlight.

• Nico Williams extended his Athletic contract in 2025 until 2035, a year after coming close to joining Barcelona.
• Félix Tainta says the Barcelona deal fell through due to a lack of guarantees over the player's registration.
• Athletic were aware of the negotiations and of the possibility that Nico could leave.
• The club will not comment publicly for now, but questions are expected at the General Assembly.
• Nico is the highest-paid player in the squad and has the longest contract in the team.

What Nico Williams' agent said about the Barcelona approach

Speaking at length on the Los Fulanos podcast, Félix Tainta made it clear that the Athletic winger chose to negotiate with Barcelona ahead of interest from other clubs. The agent admitted they were one step away from closing an agreement with the Catalan side and that Athletic were kept informed throughout the process.

The move ultimately broke down for a specific reason: Barcelona could not guarantee the player's registration. Nico Williams could not afford to be left without competitive football in a World Cup year, so the lack of administrative certainty proved decisive. Only then did the situation change and the decision was made to extend his contract with Athletic.

Nico Williams' contract situation at Athletic Club

The World Cup winner signed an eight-year extension in the summer of 2025 that ties him to the Bilbao club until 2035. That renewal came after a summer in which his departure to Barcelona was extremely close. With that move, Athletic secured their most influential player, making him the highest earner in the squad and handing him the longest contract in the dressing room.

Tainta also looked back at the previous renewal, signed in December 2023 on the eve of the European Championship. At that point Nico was due to become a free agent in 2024, and both the player and his camp felt they could not leave without the club receiving anything. The solution was to renew while keeping the same release clause.

Athletic's reaction and the anger among fans

Tainta's comments have caused surprise inside Athletic, where nobody plans to make a public statement for now. The frustration, however, is clear on the streets and among club members, who have seen confirmation that Nico intended to leave for Barcelona. The outrage has grown after learning that the club was informed about the whole process.

The agent had previously said on more than one occasion that Athletic could understand Nico Williams deciding to leave at some point. That stance, now explained in detail, fuels the feeling that the Spain international has always been in the shop window for Europe's biggest clubs.

The General Assembly as the next key moment

The next stage for addressing this issue will be the General Assembly, scheduled for two weeks from now. Although the board has chosen public silence, it is taken for granted that president Jon Uriarte will have to answer questions from club members about the situation revealed by the player's agent.

The appearance before club delegates looks set to be a test for the board, which will need to explain its role in negotiations that, according to the agent's account, took place with the club fully aware.

When Nico Williams will return to action

Nico Williams will miss Athletic's match in Valencia this Saturday through injury. His return is expected in the coming days, with two options on the table: Wednesday against Levante, also away from home, or Sunday the 25th at San Mamés against Getafe. The winger, currently under intense media scrutiny, could reconnect with his home crowd in an atmosphere marked by controversy.

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