Former Athletic Club director hits out at Deco over Nico Williams remarks – ‘What he has done is beyond belief’ | OneFootball

Barcelona’s interest in signing Nico Williams has once again stirred controversy, this time due to the comments made by Deco, the club’s sporting director.

Deco recently stated that the Athletic Club winger is eager to join Barcelona, a statement that has not been well received in the Basque Country.

Rafael Alkorta, a former Athletic Club player and the club’s sporting director from 2018 to 2022, has strongly criticised Barcelona for what he sees as a lack of respect.

Speaking on El Larguero, Alkorta accused Barça of being tactless and putting Nico Williams “in a difficult position” by making the winger’s supposed intentions public.

Alkorta hits out at Deco

Alkorta didn’t hold back. “The situation is starting to wear thin,” he said.

“Last year they tried this and I didn’t get it then either. It was more like a case of ‘we want to, but we can’t’. But now, what Deco has done is beyond belief.”

He went on to explain how Deco’s remarks make things harder for the player. “Coming out and saying Nico wants to join Barcelona is wrong.

Rafael Alkorta is not happy with the comments made by Deco. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

“He’s still an Athletic Club player, and he has a valid contract. What Deco did only makes it worse for everyone involved,” Alkorta stated.

Athletic Club have been consistent in their position that if Barcelona want the player, they must pay his release clause in full and all at once.

Anything else is off the table, and Deco’s comments seem to have only hardened the Basque club’s stance.

Alkorta also reminded the football world how transfer clauses are meant to work. “If a club wants a player, pay the clause and move on. That’s the game. But what Barça are doing now is just not on.”

Deco, for his part, has not backed down. He openly confirmed that Nico has expressed his desire to join Barcelona and added that the club will try to make the move happen to boost Hansi Flick’s project.

However, the situation has now become tense between the two clubs, with the Basque side clearly unimpressed by how things are being handled publicly.