Latest news with #FelixTainta
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The message Barcelona sent Nico Williams that 'collapsed the £50m deal' and triggered his stunning U-turn
Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams was set to join Barcelona before a single text reportedly collapsed the £50million deal. The 22-year-old was one of Europe's hottest targets at the beginning of the summer transfer window and was coveted by Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Chelsea as well as the LaLiga champions. Barcelona appeared to have beaten off opposition to acquire the Euro 2024 winner, with sporting director Deco claiming the Spaniard has shown a 'strong desire' to move to the Nou Camp. President Joan Laporta admitted they were willing to pay his €58m (£50m) release clause, while Athletic Bilbao even compained to LaLiga about Barcelona's finances in an effort to spoil the deal. The winger appeared destined to join Hansi Flick's side and bolster a devastating attack that already includes Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandoski. But earlier this month Williams backtracked, signing a remarkable ten-year contract extension at his boyhood side. A simple WhatsApp message was behind the stunning u-turn, according to Spanish outlet Sport. The message which reportedly collapsed the deal saw Barcelona suggesting that Williams should sever ties with agent Felix Tainta in favour of Jorge Mendes or Pini Zahavi. Tainta has a strong relationship with the Williams family, including brother Inaki Williams, and the text is said to have sparked outrage, spelling an end to Barcelona's pursuit. After signing his decade long extension, Williams said there is nothing better than continuing to play at his boyhood side. 'I think we have a very long season ahead of us,' he said. 'We have very ambitious titles like the Champions League, which everyone would like to play in. What could be better than doing it with the club of my life? Sporting director Deco claimed that Nico Williams had shown a 'strong desire' to join Barcelona 'I would like to continue making history here at San Mamés, with the fans, with my family, and with a lot of enthusiasm.' He will continue playing alongside brother Iñaki Williams, who will captain Athletic next season. 'We've both always dreamed of this moment,' Williams said. 'My brother is a role model for everyone, especially for me. I think he's the best person to be captain, and I can't wait to see him wearing the armband for a long time.'
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How a WhatsApp message collapsed Barcelona's move for Nico Williams
A fresh insight into some of the details of Barcelona's failed move for Athletic Club star Nico Williams this summer has this weekend been forthcoming online. This comes amid confirmation that the entire operation ultimately fell apart owing to a single message sent via WhatsApp. The name of wide-man Nico of course dominated the headlines in Catalunya's capital once more earlier this summer. As much came after widespread confirmation was forthcoming that Barcelona had reactivated their efforts to bring the 22-year-old in from Athletic. The saga was kicked back into gear by Nico's agent, Felix Tainta, who made direct contact with Deco and co. to inform Barca of his client's eagerness to finally seal his long-awaited Camp Nou switch. As revealed on Saturday, however, it was also developments surrounding Tainta which later resulted in the transfer's collapse. As per a report from , amid growing frustrations with Nico's representative, a member of the Blaugrana's board made direct contact with the attacker's family. This came to urge Nico to seek out a new agent to close the operation. And as much, it is understood, marked 'the beginning of the end': 'The Whatsapp message ended up being the beginning of the end. The feeling of the communication was as follows: Leave Tainta and have Jorge Mendes or Pini Zahavi represent you. The suggestion obviously reached the whole family. And the outrage was tremendous.' Owing to their close, long-term bond with Tainta, the Williams family therefore made the call to completely pull the plug on the move, deeply offended by Barcelona's actions. Conor Laird – GSFN
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Barcelona's tricky request to Nico Williams led to the collapse of the transfer
One of the biggest transfer stories of this summer is the failed attempt of Barcelona to sign Nico Williams from Athletic Club for the second year in a row. Everything appeared to be on track for the 23-year-old attacker to join the La Liga champions, with a contract agreement in place. However, a sudden U-turn saw Nico snub Barça again and sign a long-term contract with Athletic. The Blaugrana were furious with the player and his agent, Felix Tainta, holding him to blame for the collapse of the transfer, as he kept insisting on written registration guarantees. Barcelona encouraged Nico to change his agent Now, according to SPORT, a Barcelona official encouraged Nico Williams to change agents – to leave Felix Tainta and link up with Jorge Mendes or Pini Zahavi, which triggered a breakdown in negotiations. Tainta is a well-established figure in the Basque football scene. Apart from Nico, he represents several other Athletic Club players, including his brother Inaki, and maintains a close relationship with the Williams family. It must be remembered that Tainta was the key figure in reopening discussions with Barcelona over a move for Nico, through a meeting with Deco. Barcelona were quick to re-enter the race to sign the Spaniard. Despite initial doubts, it was club president Joan Laporta who gave the green light. With his approval, Deco began working to advance the deal. Barcelona missed out on Nico Williams again. (Photo by Ion) The Barcelona director met several times with Tainta to push negotiations forward, but eventually, progress stalled. Tainta had an offer on the table from Barça for Nico, but was also considering the possibility of his client staying at Athletic Club, who had made an improved contract offer. A risky move that bacfkired As the situation dragged on, the Blaugrana grew nervous – especially with a medical already scheduled in a Barcelona hospital for Nico. Barcelona attributed the impasse to Tainta's stance. Frustrated, a senior figure at the club reached out directly to Nico in an attempt to break the deadlock. The content of the message, sent via WhatsApp, was clear: 'Leave Tainta and have Jorge Mendes or Pini Zahavi represent you.' The suggestion quickly reached the entire Williams family, and the response was one of deep indignation and outrage, given their long-standing relationship with Tainta. Under Laporta, Barcelona have consistently preferred to negotiate with agents considered close to the club, most notably Mendes and Zahavi. However, the Williams family wanted no part of that strategy. As such, negotiations collapsed, and the relationship between the player's camp and the club was left in pieces. Nico and his family finalised a contract renewal with Athletic Club that same evening, recorded the announcement video later that night, and made it official the next morning.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona WhatsApp message to Nico Williams collapsed €58m deal
Barcelona are still searching for their new signing in attack this summer, with Athletic Club winger Nico Williams firmly in the rearview mirror. The Catalan side failed to convince Williams and his agent that he would be registered without issues, but a message sent to the Basque player helped implode the deal. The primary reason for a breakdown in negotiations was that Barcelona could not provide guarantees that Williams would be registered without issues before the end of the summer. When agent Felix Tainta demanded a clause to allow him to leave for free if he was not registered, Barcelona refused, placing negotiations into a stalemate situation. Barcelona WhatsApp message to Nico Williams The 22-year-old was keen on a move to Barcelona, and they had said that they could pay up his €58m release clause, but required some time to resolve their salary limit issues again. Yet from the Barcelona perspective, they felt that the halt in progress was down to agent Tainta and his demands, rather than obstacles put in the way by Williams. Image via EFE However Sport now explain that the decision to stay and renew his deal with Athletic was taken in the space of an afternoon. A figure at Barcelona had sent Williams a WhatsApp directly saying something along the lines of 'Leave Tainta, and get Jorge Mendes or Pini Zahavi to represent you.' Both are agents with a close relationship with Barcelona. Yet Williams and his family, Tainta also represents Inaki Williams, have a close relationship with their agent forged over many years. The attempt to break them up caused a complete breakdown between Williams and Barcelona, who asked Tainta to negotiate a renewal with Athletic that afternoon. The following morning, Williams' contract renewal was announced.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Athletic Club fans turn cold on Nico Williams over Barcelona move
As the likelihood of Nico Williams' departure increases, the first major public reaction has already taken place back in his hometown. A mural in Barakaldo, a municipality located in the Basque Country, which featured both Nico and his older brother, Inaki Williams, has been altered. Advertisement In the early hours of Sunday, a group of individuals erased Nico's image from the wall. What remains is not just the absence of the young star's face, but also a strong message painted next to it. 'Joan edo geratu, errespetua galdu duzu.' (Translation: 'Go or stay. You have lost respect.'). The mural originally went up in March 2024, following Athletic Club's Copa del Rey triumph. Over time, other club icons like Iker Muniain and Oscar De Marcos were added. However, the recent act of defacing shows how divided emotions have become, especially among fans who feel betrayed by Nico's possible exit. Barcelona working behind the scenes Despite the controversy, the transfer looks set to go through. Barcelona's sporting director Deco has already confirmed that the club is actively working to finalise the move. The earlier mural looked like this. (Photo credit: X/GerardRomero) Advertisement The player's camp is also playing its part. Nico's agent, Felix Tainta, is now trying to convince Athletic Club to accept a payment structure that would allow Barça to pay the fee in instalments rather than all at once. The release clause currently stands at €58 million, but with inflation factored in, the total amount could reach €62 million unless both clubs reach a favourable agreement soon. If all goes according to plan, Nico Williams could soon be wearing the Barcelona shirt, fulfilling a move that now seems more inevitable than ever, even if it comes at the cost of upsetting his hometown supporters.
