Barcelona President Reveals Why Nico Williams Deal Collapsed

In a recent interview with Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona president Joan Laporta talked about various issues that have engulfed the club this summer.

Laporta talked about the fine from UEFA, the delayed Camp Nou project and even the European Super League.

However, the Barça president also talked about the failed operation to sign Nico Williams, who ended up renewing his contract at Athletic Club.

Laporta on Barcelona’s failed Nico Williams pursuit
Laporta explained that signing a new forward was always going to be a complicated process for Barcelona this summer.

“It was a more complicated area than the goalkeeping position due to the opinions coming from all sides. There were several options, and I’m very happy because we ended up getting the option I liked the most,” he said.

The Barcelona president admitted the club were interested in Luis Diaz, but pointed out how Nico Williams suddenly entered the picture.

“It’s true that I also liked Luis Diaz, a very complete player, but due to his circumstances, with Liverpool very entrenched, it was complicated, although I appreciate the player who always wanted to come,” he said.

“The Nico Williams situation also happened. And given that Luis’ situation was complicated and that we were in the process of negotiating with Rashford, Nico’s agent came to me offering the possibility of signing him,” he added.

Laporta further revealed that Deco was the one who convinced him to take a closer look at Nico, even though the sporting director himself was a huge fan of Luis Diaz.

“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, because he holds his own on the wing,” he said.

Laporta described how Barcelona went through with negotiations and how the club gave the opposing entities a final deadline.

“Negotiations took place, but from what they told us to what it ended up being, there was a big difference in the payment terms, the agent’s commission, and a series of variables that already suggested the deal wouldn’t happen,” he revealed.

“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 became clearer,” he concluded.

After missing out on both Nico and Diaz this summer, Barcelona have indeed roped in Rashford, who joins on a loan deal with the club having the option to sign the player permanently next summer.

Barcauniversal.com