Joan Laporta explains Barcelona’s side of Nico Williams transfer saga | OneFootball

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has this week provided an insight into the club’s failed pursuit of Athletic Club star Nico Williams.

The name of wide-man Nico of course dominated the headlines in Catalunya’s capital once more earlier this summer.

As much came after widespread confirmation was forthcoming that Barcelona had reactivated their efforts to bring the 22-year-old in from Athletic.

Just when it appeared as though the transfer was a sure thing, however, Nico, out of the blue, pulled the plug on the operation.

The attacker, instead, made the call to put pen to paper on a lucrative long-term contract extension in Bilbao.

Barcelona, in turn, shifted focus towards Manchester United star Marcus Rashford, since tying up a deal for the Englishman earlier this week.

Speaking during an interview with Mundo Deportivo on Friday, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of the club’s failed Nico chase was put to Blaugrana president Joan Laporta.

And the Spanish patron was honest as ever in providing a lengthy response, as follows:

”Given that the Luis (Díaz) deal was complicated and that we were in the process of negotiating with Rashford, Nico’s agent came to us offering the possibility of signing him. Deco told me about it. In principle, I preferred to work on the other two options, but in these cases, I always listen to the sporting director. He said we should at least listen because he’s an interesting player who can hold his own. Negotiations took place, but from what they told us to what ultimately happened, there was a big difference in terms of payment deadlines, the agent’s commission, and a series of variables that already suggested the deal wouldn’t happen. Deco set a 48-hour deadline, and if they didn’t accept our terms, we wouldn’t do the deal. In the end, it didn’t happen. In parallel, work continued on the other two, and Rashford’s deal became clearer.”

Conor Laird – GSFN