The humiliated Barça, Bilbao triumphs. A surprise extension has just broken Catalan dreams.
FC Barcelona thought it was holding its new gem. Nico Williams, was to join Lamine Yamal to ignite Camp Nou. But no. The announcement fell as a thunderclap: Nico extends to Athletic Bilbao until 2035.
An uppercut for Barça. A silent triumph for the Basques.
Behind this jacket reversal? A clause. Or rather, the absence of one. According to the newspaper SportFélix Tainta, the player's agent, had nevertheless stood his hand: Nico wanted Barça. Deco met the clan in June. The agreement was close. But Tainta demanded security: a release clause if Barça could not register the player.
Impossible, retorted the club. And the words of Javier Tebas declaring that Barça could not record Nico sealed the fate. The Athletic seized the bargain and completed extension in absolute silence.
Where Barça burst in the media, Bilbao acted behind the scenes. Even the “win 2035” graffiti tagged by Nico on the Williams brothers' fresco had been temporarily erased so as not to arouse suspicion, according to Market football. The Basque club offered a record contract. Result: a shock signature, filmed the day before in the greatest secrecy. Barça? Outside of a possible transfer.
