Barcelona, Athletic Club Clash Over Nico Williams Transfer Collapse

Barcelona's summer transfer plans suffered a setback as Nico Williams unexpectedly signed a new long-term contract with Athletic Club, disappointing Barcelona coach Hansi Flick who had anticipated the winger's arrival as a key addition. Despite prior agreements and mutual interest, the deal collapsed primarily due to Barcelona's refusal to include certain registration guarantees demanded by Williams's agent, Felix Tainta. The surprise contract extension shocked both Barcelona and Bayern Munich, with Uli Hoeness revealing that Flick was caught off guard given the near-agreement previously reported. In response, Flick plans to rely more heavily on La Masia youth prospects such as Jan Virgili and Dani Rodríguez to fill squad gaps, especially following the departure of Ansu Fati. Barcelona is also exploring alternative transfer targets like Luis Diaz and Marcus Rashford to compensate for missing out on Williams. This development highlights ongoing transfer market challenges for Barcelona as they adjust their strategy ahead of the new season.