Athletic Club has raised formal concerns with LaLiga regarding FC Barcelona’s financial ability to sign players amid the La Liga Champions’ interest in signing Nico Williams.
Despite reports of Barcelona’s financial difficulties, the club is busy in the transfer market trying to recruit players to augment their squad.
This has led to ongoing scrutiny over the Catalan club’s compliance with financial fair play (FFP) regulations.
To have clarity, Athletic Club, the parent club of Nico Williams, has engaged La Liga’s leadership.
A meeting held in Madrid at the request of Athletic Club brought together LaLiga president Javier Tebas and Athletic president Jon Uriarte.
It focused primarily on Barcelona’s current financial position, particularly in light of comments from Barça sporting director Anderson Luis de Souza ‘Deco’, who openly confirmed the club’s desire to sign Nico Williams from Athletic’s first team.
Below is a copy of a club statement from Athletic Club providing details of the meeting.
The Club appreciates the willingness and clarity of the organization that defends the interests of all clubs. Within the framework of financial fair play, among other issues, FC Barcelona’s ability to recruit players was discussed.
Athletic Club would like to thank LaLiga de Fútbol Profesional for the willingness and clarity shown at the meeting held yesterday between the two entities, which was attended by the presidents of both organizations, Javier Tebas and Jon Uriarte.
The meeting was held in Madrid in response to a request from Athletic Club made within the framework of compliance with financial fair play. Among the topics discussed was FC Barcelona’s ability to sign players, given Athletic Club’s legitimate interest in accessing the relevant information, after FC Barcelona sporting director Anderson Luis de Souza ‘Deco’ publicly acknowledged that they will try to sign a player from our first team. This player has a contract with Athletic Club until June 30, 2027. Minding our own business means ensuring that the rules of the competition are followed.
Anderson Luis de Souza ‘Deco’s’ statements add to the public statements made by FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta himself, admitting that the Blaugrana club ” is working to be within the 1:1 rule ” and that, therefore, it is not currently within the parameters of said rule for registering players.
We appreciate LaLiga’s complete willingness and clarity in its qualified response, and we affirm that Athletic Club will defend its interests to the fullest extent in compliance with the financial fair play regulations approved by each and every one of the professional clubs that make up LaLiga.
