Nico Williams’ Barcelona snub: What really happened and when Barça found out | OneFootball

The night of Thursday, 3 July, was especially eventful in Bilbao. With complete discretion, Athletic Club and Nico Williams’ representatives prepared one of the biggest bombshells of the summer, considering the expectations built up over the past few months.

Indeed, when everyone expected Nico to sign for Barcelona, the Basque club secured an agreement over a new contract with the winger before making an official announcement earlier today.

Now, SPORT has come forward with a comprehensive report about how the sudden U-turn from Nico and his renewal with Athletic came about.

Athletic had been ‘slow cooking’ the deal

Athletic had been quietly working for weeks on the possibility of renewing Nico, fully aware that the player had publicly expressed his desire to join Barcelona to play alongside his friend Lamine Yamal.

Once Nico made his decision, his agent, Felix Tainta, scheduled a private meeting with Barça’s sporting director, Deco. The meeting took place discreetly on 13 June, in a hotel in Barcelona, where Tainta laid out the player’s intentions.

The only real concern was whether Barcelona could register Nico due to Financial Fair Play issues – something Tainta raised directly with Deco.

Nico wanted to play with Lamine. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

The Blaugrana assured Nico’s agent that the clause would be paid without issue, but could not guarantee that the player would be registered. To complicate matters, La Liga president Javier Tebas publicly stated that Barcelona would face problems registering players.

That is when Athletic made their move. Club president Jon Uriarte and general director Jon Berasategi used a trip to Madrid to meet with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and La Liga, making it clear they intended to scrutinise Barcelona’s financial operations.

Athletic believed that Barça did not meet the conditions to qualify for the 1:1 rule and demanded that RFEF and La Liga block Nico’s registration until Barça complied with regulations.

This was the club’s first public move, but behind the scenes, they had already urged Nico’s representatives to sit down and discuss a renewal.

Uriarte’s goal was to “make Nico the marquee signing of Athletic,” a strategic move that would give the club more leverage amid its standoff with Barça.

Making the move

As days passed, reports emerged that the deal was done and the clause would be paid by Barcelona imminently. Yet the club still could not guarantee Nico’s registration.

When Tainta proposed inserting a release clause in case the player could not be registered, Barça refused. That was the breaking point.

Athletic responded by putting forward the biggest contract offer in the club’s history – ten years for Nico. The player changed his mind.

The Basque outfit also promised to manage public perception, ensuring Nico’s image remained intact among Athletic fans.

Video recorded on Thursday

A change of heart and Nico decided to stay. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

The renewal announcement video was recorded on Thursday night under tight secrecy. After Nico wrote “Win 2035” on the mural, the number was temporarily erased to avoid leaks – later restored for the official version.

The night from Thursday to Friday was intense, but Athletic had prepared for all scenarios: from a transfer to Barcelona to a renewal – ultimately, it was the latter that materialised.

The Basque club are pleased with how it ended – “a very quick operation, but one that had been slow-cooked.”

Nico personally informed his close friend Lamine Yamal of his decision, and minutes before the video was posted on social media, Athletic officially notified a stunned Barcelona of the renewal.

Neither Inaki Williams nor any of Nico’s teammates intervened in the decision. They stayed out of the negotiation once Nico had told them, during the squad’s post-season holiday, of his desire to leave for Barça.

This is the full story behind one of the most surprising setbacks in Barcelona’s recent history – and perhaps the most significant contract renewal in the history of Athletic Club.