Barcelona’s vice president, Rafa Yuste, has spoken out about the ongoing transfer saga surrounding Athletic Club winger Nico Williams. He criticized Athletic Bilbao for applying emotional pressure on their fans, arguing that such tactics are unlikely to result in a positive outcome for anyone involved.
Speaking at the Spanish Football Federation assembly, Yuste urged the Basque club to “calm down” and expressed disapproval of their emotional appeals aimed at both the player and their supporters. He stressed that while Athletic fans are smart enough to understand that players may choose to leave, trying to manipulate emotions won’t change the situation.
Yuste also took issue with Athletic’s decision to involve LaLiga in reviewing Barcelona’s finances, suggesting that such disputes should stay between clubs without outside interference.
On the other side, Athletic has pushed back strongly. Their frustration isn’t necessarily with Barcelona’s interest in Nico, but rather with how Barça has handled the situation—citing leaked information, public comments by sporting director Deco, and pressure tactics that break the usual protocols of transfer negotiations.
Former Athletic player Rafa Alkorta described Barcelona’s approach as “clumsy” and “highly insensitive,” particularly criticizing Deco for publicly revealing that Nico was considering leaving. This disclosure has reportedly put the player in an uncomfortable position during his summer break.
In response, Athletic’s leadership, including president Jon Uriarte, has escalated the matter by formally reporting Barcelona’s conduct to both the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and LaLiga. They’ve also indicated that further legal or regulatory steps might be taken to defend their stance.
In short: Yuste argues that Athletic’s emotionally driven approach won’t benefit anyone, while Athletic accuses Barcelona of mishandling the situation through public pressure and leaks, leading to a growing institutional conflict between the two clubs.
