FC Barcelona didn't expect that, overnight, Nico Williams would renew his contract with Athletic Club. Nobody contacted the Catalan team to communicate his final decision, and they found out about what happened through social media. This angered several culer members, but especially Joan Laporta. The president was opposed to signing him from the beginning of the summer, but the offer from his agent, Félix Tainta, changed everything.
Nico Williams offered himself to Barça
To provide context for everything that happened, it's important to remember that Barça had already ruled out Nico Williams. After what happened last summer, Laporta didn't even want to hear his name in the meetings of the sporting management. Everything changed with a call from Félix Tainta, requesting a meeting with Deco, and both sat down a few days later. He expressed his desire to wear FC Barcelona's jersey, accepting last year's contract and without setting any conditions.
Seeing Nico Williams's change in attitude, Joan Laporta decided to change his stance and open Barça's doors to him. With his contract secured until 2030 and the money ready to pay his release clause (€62 million including CPI), something changed. Suddenly, Tainta started demanding a clause to guarantee his registration in LaLiga in less than two weeks and, if not, he would be free to leave at no cost.
Barcelona immediately rejected this, asking for trust and assuring that they would be within the 1:1 rule. This wasn't enough for Félix Tainta, who ended up securing an out-of-market contract for his client. Meanwhile, while Nico Williams kept telling Barça's locker room that his signing wasn't in danger, at the same time he recorded the video of his renewal with Athletic Club. This has been a hard blow and has led to a key decision.
Félix Tainta: Banned from Barça
After everything that happened through his agent's underhanded tactics, Barça has been clear: it won't go after anyone represented by Félix Tainta. The portfolio of players managed by the Spanish agent has been banned from the culer squad, making it clear that they don't want any kind of relationship with him.
They didn't like his attitude or his way of acting at all. He's banned. Neither Nico Williams nor any of his other clients. Félix Tainta's portfolio will never wear Barça's jersey.