Barcelona sporting director Deco has dismissed suggestions that the club actively chased Athletic Club winger Nico Williams during the summer transfer window, insisting that it was the player’s representatives who initiated contact.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Deco clarified the situation surrounding the highly discussed transfer links and underlined that Barça never made Nico a primary target. “We never chased Nico Williams. It was his agent who approached us multiple times, not us going after him,” Deco explained.
The 22-year-old Spanish international was heavily linked with a move to Camp Nou in July, with reports claiming that Barcelona had held talks with Athletic Bilbao. However, Deco stressed that the club only listened out of professional courtesy and not because Williams fit their sporting plans. “Athletic Club should ask his agent… as he wasn’t even exactly the profile we were looking for. You just have to listen when there are transfer proposals or new ideas,” he added.
Deco also made it clear that Barcelona refused to bow to the demands being placed during negotiations. According to him, the sticking points were not related to player registration issues, but to the conditions set by Williams’ camp.
