Bilbao take hard line with Barcelona over Laporte as release clause row intensifies

Athletic Bilbao have made it clear to Barcelona that any move for Aymeric Laporte this summer will only happen if the full release clause in his contract is paid, with the Basque club insisting the figure is far higher than has been reported.

Barcelona have identified Laporte as a defensive target in the current transfer window following his impressive performances at the World Cup, where he formed a highly regarded central defensive partnership with Barca’s own Pau Cubarsi.

According to Spanish outlet Sport, sources inside Athletic Bilbao say the buyout clause in Laporte’s contract is “much higher” than the amounts currently being circulated in the media.

Laporte, who played alongside Cubarsi throughout the World Cup, was a key part of the Spain side that conceded only one goal on their way to lifting the trophy, significantly enhancing his profile ahead of the new season.

Tension over Barcelona interest

Sport recently detailed Barcelona’s initial moves to explore a deal for Laporte, a development that has angered Bilbao. The club remains upset with Barcelona over the Nico Williams saga and feels the Catalan side are once again attempting to prise away one of their standout players.

In response, Bilbao have delivered what has been described as a firm and unambiguous message: if Barcelona want Laporte, they must trigger his full release clause, with no room for negotiation on the fee.

The stance is reinforced by the length of Laporte’s current deal, which runs until the summer of 2028, putting Athletic in a strong position to resist pressure to sell below the clause.

Dispute over clause valuation

Reports from some sources had suggested that Laporte’s clause stood in the region of €12m to €15m, a price that would make the 30-year-old a relatively affordable option for Barcelona as they look to reshape their back line.

However, officials at Athletic Bilbao have rejected those figures outright, insisting the true amount is close to double the numbers being discussed publicly. The clarification effectively prices Laporte at around €24m to €30m, significantly altering the financial equation for any potential transfer.

Barca must sell before they buy

Even if Barcelona were willing to meet the revised assessment of Laporte’s buyout clause, any arrival at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys this summer – and subsequently at the revamped Spotify Camp Nou – would depend on an existing defender departing.

Head coach Hansi Flick currently has five centre-backs in his squad: Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Gerard Martin, Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen. Club officials accept that bringing in Laporte without first offloading one of those players would leave the squad overloaded in that position and complicate the club’s financial planning.

With Athletic Bilbao publicly hardening their position and the buyout figure now understood to be considerably higher than initially thought, Barcelona face a complex set of sporting and economic obstacles if they are to reunite Laporte with Cubarsi at club level before the end of the transfer window.