Nico Williams Shocks Barcelona with Contract Renewal at Athletic Club, Leaving Blaugrana Furious
FC Barcelona have been left furious and blindsided after Spanish winger Nico Williams renewed his contract with Athletic Club, despite what the club believed were advanced negotiations to secure his signature this summer.
According to the latest report by SPORT, the Catalan giants had finalized personal terms with Nico and were set to trigger his termination clause next week.
The club was confident that the deal was practically sealed—until Athletic Bilbao announced his contract renewal, extending his stay until 2035.
Barcelona Feel Used and Betrayed
Sources close to the club say that Barça’s frustration is immense, particularly because they had reached a verbal agreement on a long-term contract until 2031. Discussions had been ongoing for weeks, and Barcelona had even adjusted their payment plans to accommodate Nico’s team.
What has angered Barça most is the lack of communication. Nico’s entourage reportedly failed to notify the club of the final decision before it was made public through Athletic’s official channels. For Barcelona’s leadership, this felt like a betrayal, especially given that they were in constant contact with the player’s representatives until just hours before the shocking announcement.
Barca Suspects Strategic Leverage Play
Barcelona insiders believe Nico and his camp used the club’s interest and offer as leverage to secure a more lucrative renewal with Athletic Club. They feel strung along in a situation eerily similar to last year, when Nico was seen modeling Athletic’s new kit shortly after allegedly showing interest in a move to Camp Nou.
But unlike last summer, this time talks were more advanced, and the Blaugrana had delayed activating his buyout clause to give Nico’s representatives more time to wrap up formalities. Instead, they were met with a public renewal that caught the entire board off-guard.
Transfer Plans Thrown into Disarray
Nico Williams was seen as a priority summer signing for Barcelona, especially under the direction of new manager Hansi Flick, who is reportedly keen on rebuilding with fresh attacking options. His sudden renewal leaves the club scrambling for alternatives, just weeks ahead of the pre-season.
The situation underscores Barcelona’s fragile financial and transfer planning, with the board now re-evaluating its summer strategy amid feelings of disappointment and betrayal.
