Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, has provided new details on why the club’s pursuit of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams did not succeed last summer. In his explanation, Deco clarified that the player was offered to Barcelona first, rather than the other way around.
💬 Who Approached Whom?
Deco explained that Barcelona did not actively seek out Nico Williams. Instead, he said the player’s agent was the one who contacted the club to propose a potential move. “We weren’t the ones who sought out Nico,” Deco stated, emphasizing that discussions only began after the player expressed interest in joining them. He added that this is how football negotiations often work.
📌 Why the Deal Fell Through
The negotiations ultimately broke down because both sides could not agree on the terms. According to Deco, Barcelona was unwilling to accept the conditions set by the player’s representatives. “We said we didn’t accept the conditions imposed on us, because no player can impose conditions on us,” he explained. The club set a deadline for a response, but after not hearing back, both parties decided to move on.
🗣️ A Message to Athletic Bilbao
Deco also addressed comments from Athletic Bilbao regarding Barcelona’s financial situation. He suggested that Bilbao should be more concerned with their player’s agent, who he claims approached Barcelona multiple times. “They should be more concerned about his agent, who came to Barça several times to offer us the player,” Deco remarked, indicating that the focus should be on the agent’s actions rather than on Barcelona’s finances.
