In a revealing interview with Mundo Deportivo, Deco, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, opened up about the failed transfer of Nico Williams.
The 23-year-old winger, who has played three matches and scored one goal in La Liga this season, was reportedly eager to join the Catalan giants last summer. Deco claims it was Williams who approached Barcelona, but the Athletic Bilbao’s handling of the situation left much to be desired.
Deco emphasized that there was no error on Barcelona’s part regarding the transfer process. ‘We simply established the club’s conditions,’ he stated, highlighting the importance of paper negotiations and contract discussions.
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He further insisted that Barcelona would not accept any imposed terms from the other side, asserting, ‘No player will dictate terms to us.’ Ultimately, Deco noted that the negotiations fell through due to Bilbao’s lack of response to their stipulated deadline.
The Barcelona director made it clear that this was not about registration guarantees. ‘If you want to negotiate, tell me everything you need and want, and don’t change your mind afterwards,’ he explained.
Deco Critiques Athletic Bilbao’s Negotiation Tactics
Deco’s frustration with the situation was palpable as he declared, ‘I will not discuss this matter any further; we have talked enough about it, and Bilbao has said too much nonsense.’
Furthermore, Deco shared his candid opinion about Athletic Bilbao, asserting, ‘I believe Bilbao is by no means an example to follow in this regard.’ He clarified that Barcelona did not actively seek to recruit Williams, suggesting that it was Bilbao’s responsibility to manage their player’s interests. ‘They should worry more about the agent who approached us multiple times to offer this player,’ he added, putting the onus back on the Basque club.
In closing, Deco reiterated that the situation was quite straightforward. ‘If one of our players allows his agent to talk to other teams, we can’t blame other clubs for that,’ he said, summarizing the events as a failed attempt to secure a promising talent who ultimately slipped through their fingers.
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