The much-anticipated transfer of Nico Williams to Barcelona has collapsed spectacularly, and fingers are now being pointed after the Spanish winger announced that he has signed a 10-year contract extension with Athletic Club, keeping him at the club until 2035.
While the news has delighted Bilbao fans, it’s a huge blow for Barcelona, who have now suffered back-to-back rejections from the highly-rated winger in two consecutive summer windows.
Barcelona’s pursuit of Nico was no secret. As Softfootball previously reported, sporting director Deco had openly confirmed that the winger was a top priority. All signs pointed toward a deal being close, with personal terms agreed upon, including salary and contract length.
However, in a shocking twist, Williams renewed his contract with Bilbao—leaving Barcelona blindsided.
According to sources, the Catalan giants are furious with the winger’s agent, Felix Tainta, whose last-minute demands reportedly led to the collapse of the deal. The agent is said to have introduced a “free release clause” and insisted on a specific registration date in July—two requests that Barcelona deemed unacceptable.
Despite the disappointment, Deco already has backup options in place. Softfootball earlier reported that Marcus Rashford is now back on Barcelona’s radar, with the club believing the coast is clear for a potential move. In addition, Colombian winger Luis Díaz is being monitored closely as another alternative.
Barcelona’s transfer strategy continues to be shaped by financial limitations. While recent reports suggest the 1:1 spending rule could soon return, the club has still not registered new signing Joan Garcia, who joined from Espanyol.
The Blaugrana remain hopeful of completing his registration without major player sales, but several fringe players are now on the chopping block, including Pau Víctor, Pablo Torre, Marc-André ter Stegen, and Oriol Romeu.
For Barcelona fans, this latest transfer saga will sting—but with Deco working on new targets and financial clarity on the horizon, the club will look to bounce back quickly from the Nico Williams setback.
