Nico Williams' agent reveals why he turned down Barcelona: "I don't have to eat your problem"

Felix Tainta, Nico Williams' agent, has shed light on the reasons that led the winger to turn down FC Barcelona and commit to Athletic Club until 2035. Speaking on the 'Los Fulanos' podcast, the Navarre-born representative confirmed that uncertainty over the player's registration was decisive in the summer of 2025. Without full guarantees of being able to compete from day one, the deal fell through.

• Barcelona showed real interest in Nico Williams but could not guarantee his LaLiga registration.
• Tainta kept Athletic informed at all times about talks with the Catalan club.
• The agent considered it unacceptable for the player to be left without competitive action in a World Cup year.
• Williams renewed until 2035, showing loyalty to Athletic that his representative highlighted.
• Arsenal, Bayern, Liverpool, PSG and Barcelona all pursued the Spain international.

LaLiga registration: the main obstacle in Nico Williams' move to Barcelona

Money was not the only hurdle in the negotiation. According to Tainta, the real blocker came when Barcelona could not guarantee that Williams would be available to play from the start of the season. The club's delicate financial fair play situation and recurring registration problems weighed more heavily than any figure on the table.

We spoke with Barcelona, and logically Athletic knew because I kept them informed at all times about the situation, even though Athletic were upset with Barcelona over how they handled things. From there I entered talks, and there came a moment in the negotiation where Nico simply could not be left without playing.

The representative was blunt when describing his stance with Barcelona executives. Nico Williams is an elite footballer and could not afford to land at a club without certainty about his immediate participation.

Tainta's message to Barcelona: "Nico is a Formula 1"

The metaphor chosen by Tainta sums up his negotiating philosophy: a unique talent like Williams should not have to absorb the structural problems of a potential destination. The agent made it clear that sporting performance was the priority, not solving someone else's financial pressures.

Nico is a Formula 1, and if I come to your house I don't have to eat your problem. That is how I made it clear to Barcelona. From there we decided that without certain guarantees we could not risk Nico going there and not playing.

That lack of security triggered a complete shift in the decision. The winger went from considering a departure to signing a long-term contract with Athletic, a bet on stability amid the international spotlight.

The World Cup context that shaped Nico Williams' decision

The international calendar added pressure to the operation. With a major national team tournament on the horizon, Williams could not afford a scenario of forced inactivity. Tainta stressed that a footballer of his caliber must practice his profession regularly, without a club's bureaucratic issues conditioning his preparation.

That argument, combined with the lack of concrete answers from Barcelona, tipped the balance toward staying in Bilbao. The agent repeated that the demand was simple: full registration guarantees or nothing.

From mass interest after the Euros to a contract with Athletic until 2035

The saga did not start in 2025. A year earlier, after winning the European Championship with Spain, Williams was already on the agenda of Europe's biggest projects. Tainta listed the suitors who knocked on his door: Barcelona, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and PSG. All wanted the winger, but none managed to pry him away from San Mames.

We all know about Barcelona's interest in the summer of 2024, after the Euros. Barcelona, Arsenal, Bayern, Liverpool, PSG... Everyone wanted Nico, and having a footballer say no to all those clubs is not easy.

The bond with Athletic went back further. In December 2023, the player renewed for three seasons even as his contract was nearing its end and free agency promised a massive signing bonus. That decision, according to his agent, shows the player's loyalty to the club that developed him.

Loyalty to Athletic despite the desire for new challenges

Tainta did not hide that Williams was considering a change of scenery. Athletic's competitive limitations, far from fighting for a Champions League or a league title, invited a leap. However, the combination of institutional loyalty and a lack of external guarantees ended up clearing any doubt.

The result was a contract that ties the winger to Athletic until 2035, a statement of intent that strengthens the Basque project and at least temporarily closes the door to future Barcelona approaches.

Frequently asked questions about Nico Williams' future