Latest news with #PiniZahavi
Yahoo
4 days ago
- 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
5 days ago
- 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
5 days ago
- 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.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Leroy Sane in 'advanced talks with shock club' after telling Bayern Munich he will leave for free this summer - in blow to Arsenal after 'meeting agent'
Leroy Sane is reportedly in advanced talks to join Turkish champions Galatasaray. Sane has told Bayern Munich that he will not renew his expiring contract and is now in line to pen a yearly deal in Turkey worth between £8.47million and £10.16m. The German has reportedly been a target for Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham, with BILD claiming that his agent Pini Zahavi has entertained talks with all three. His contract saga has been one of great importance to Bayern, where he has won four Bundesliga titles since leaving Manchester City in a £55m deal in 2020. Zahavi recently gave a positive update on renewal talks, telling Sky Germany he had a 'nice dinner' with club chiefs, but now Bayern appear set to lose a key man. Reporter Florian Plettenberg claims Sane has rejected an improve contract offer from Bayern and that he is in talks with Galatasaray. He will not join Bayern for their Club World Cup campaign, which begins on Sunday against Auckland City. Sane would certainly be a coup on a free transfer for Galatasaray, who are hoping to bolster their attacking options after the end of Victor Osimhen's loan from Napoli. The Turkish league has become a popular landing spot for former Premier League stars but Sane can arguably still operate at the top level. He was once again an important cog in the Bayern machine this season as he scored 13 goals, made six assists, and helped them reclaim the Bundesliga title. Sane was an integral part of Manchester City's 'Centurions' team in 2017-18 before he helped the club to win a domestic treble - including a second successive Premier League title - the following campaign. However, he endured a fraught end to his time in Manchester after suffering a torn ACL before joining Bayern in the summer of 2020. Galatasaray's advancement comes as a blow to Arsenal but they may have more luck with striker target Benjamin Sesko. Al-Hilal have made an enquiry about the RB Leipzig striker but were informed his preference is to join the Gunners. Sesko has emerged as Arsenal's No 1 transfer target as Mikel Arteta looks to add more firepower to his attack.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Leroy Sané set to leave Bayern on a free transfer
After five years at Bayern Munich, Leroy Sané is set to leave the club this summer. That's according to Sky Germany, who reports that the winger will depart once his contract expires at the end of June. Advertisement The 29-year-old has reportedly turned down an improved extension offer from Bayern and will now explore opportunities elsewhere. Sané and Bayern had been in advanced talks over a new deal and were close to an agreement until the winger changed course, switching representation to super-agent Pini Zahavi. The German international joined Bayern from Manchester City in 2020 for a reported fee of €49 million. Since then, he has made 220 appearances for the club, scoring 61 goals and providing 55 assists.
