According to the player's agent/behind the scenes of the failed transfer: why Niko didn't go to Barcelona!

Felix Tainta, the agent of Nico Williams, clarified the rumors surrounding the player's transfer to Barcelona in the summer of 2025.

According to "Sports Three", he explained on the Los Folanos podcast why the Athletic Bilbao star did not end up at the Camp Nou and confirmed that the player had a strong desire to leave and win big honors.

"We all know that Barcelona wanted to sign him after the Euros in the summer of 2024," Tainta said, referring to the numerous clients of this prominent winger. Barcelona, ​​Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain; "All of them wanted Niko, and it is not easy to reject the offer of such clubs." He also added that despite the Bilbao club's displeasure with Barcelona's approach, the progress of negotiations was always brought to the notice of the managers of the Basque club.

The main reason for the failure of this transfer was the issue of guaranteeing the game. Niko's agent emphasized: "Niko is like a Formula One car." At some point in the negotiations, we felt that he could not sit on the bench. I told Barcelona that I am not going to solve your financial or contract registration problems; Niko is a professional and must play. "If there was no guarantee of that, we couldn't take the risk, especially in a World Cup year."

Tainta also noted his client's genuine desire to take a step forward, adding: "Nico wanted to separate. "He is an ambitious player and he knows that there are limits at Athletic Bilbao and that it is difficult to win the Champions League or even La Liga."

Finally, after various options were rejected one after the other and the transfer conditions were not met, the idea of ​​extending the contract came up. Tainta said: "I asked him if the conditions are not right, do you want to sign a new contract?" He agreed and his contract was extended." In the end, the player's agent pointed to his loyalty, noting that Nico Williams could have left earlier as a free agent and received a huge bonus, but he chose to stay loyal to Bilbao.