Barcelona’s failure to guarantee that Nico Williams could be registered to play under La Liga’s financial regulations was the decisive factor behind the collapse of his proposed move to the Spanish club in the summer of 2025, his agent has revealed
Felix Tainta said the uncertainty surrounding the winger’s eligibility to play meant the transfer was too risky, particularly with the World Cup approaching at the time.
Barcelona had pursued the Spain international over two summers, having been impressed by his performances for both the national team and Athletic Bilbao. However, the Catalan club’s inability to provide the necessary assurances ultimately prevented the deal from going ahead.
Tainta confirmed that negotiations had taken place between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, adding that the Basque club had been kept informed throughout the process, despite its dissatisfaction with Barcelona’s conduct.
“We were in talks with Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao were aware of this. They knew what was happening throughout the process, although the club was not happy with Barcelonas actions,” he said, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
The agent said the possibility that Williams could move to Barcelona without being guaranteed registration was unacceptable, as it could have left the forward unable to play despite changing clubs.
“As the negotiations progressed, it became clear that Nico Williams could not afford to take the risk of not playing. Its like a Formula 1 car; if I move into your house, I shouldnt inherit your problems. I made that perfectly clear to Barcelona,” he added.
Tainta said the decision was ultimately guided by the need to protect Williams’ professional career. Without clear assurances that the player would be eligible to feature, he said, the parties could not justify proceeding with the transfer.
“We decided, in the absence of specific guarantees, that we could not risk Nico going there and then ending up without playing. He is a professional and needs to practice his profession, especially with the World Cup approaching at that time,” he explained.
The registration issue proved particularly important because a move to Barcelona would have offered little benefit if Williams could not take part in competitive matches. The agent stressed that the player needed to be able to continue playing without being affected by the financial difficulties of his prospective employers.
“If I come to your house to do my job, I should be able to continue doing it and your problems shouldnt affect me. If you cant ensure that doesnt happen, maybe I should change my mind. Thats exactly what happened,” Tainta concluded.
Williams eventually remained at Athletic Bilbao, where he has continued to establish himself as one of the club’s leading attacking players.
The winger’s decision brought an end to Barcelona’s pursuit of a player whose reputation had grown significantly following his performances in the summer of 2024.
Williams played an important role in Spain’s triumph at the European Championship that year and also helped Athletic Bilbao win the Copa del Rey, ending the club’s 40-year wait for a trophy.
Those achievements made him one of Europe’s most sought-after players and strengthened Barcelona’s interest in securing his services.
Despite that interest, the transfer failed to materialise because the club could not provide the registration guarantees demanded by the player’s representative.
Tainta’s account makes clear that the issue was not simply the negotiations between the clubs, but the risk that Williams could find himself unable to play after completing a move.
For the Spain international, remaining at Athletic Bilbao offered greater certainty over his ability to continue his career on the pitch.
