Barcelona’s hopes of signing Nico Williams fell apart in a twist that stunned many.
The Athletic Club star, long seen as a top summer target for the Catalans, chose loyalty over ambition, extending his stay in Bilbao until 2035.
What looked like a done deal began to crumble when details from behind the scenes surfaced. It turns out Barcelona had once again tried to sign him, just like they did the previous summer, but failed for the second straight year.
Nico’s agent, Felix Tainta, had started talks by offering the player to Barcelona, leading to meetings with Deco and even the green light from president Joan Laporta. At one point, Tainta had two clear options: a move to Camp Nou or a better offer from Athletic.
Barcelona grew uneasy. According to Sport, they viewed Tainta as a roadblock and made a bold move, directly messaging Nico, urging him to drop his agent for Jorge Mendes or Pini Zahavi. “Leave Tainta alone and have Jorge Mendes or Pini Zahavi represent you,” the message read. That message shook Nico’s inner circle and strained trust with the club.
