Joan Laporta has broken his silence on the ongoing transfer dispute with Athletic Club, revealing new details about the negotiations.
FC Barcelona is moving ahead with its squad overhaul for the 2025-26 season under Hansi Flick to once again exert dominance in European football.
Barcelona’s efforts to sign a top-class winger have already begun to create friction with Athletic Club due to their misgivings about Barcelona complying with LaLiga’s fair play regulations.
Athletic Club is concerned about the fact that Barcelona wants to activate a sizeable release clause, and their request for a LaLiga audit is merely a check on system compliance, as per Diario Sport.
Quarantine has been increasing tension between the two sides, with Athletic Club cancelling pre-match commitments and their respective proclamations to the contentious media.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s counterattack was one of defiance as he told Athletic Club to mind their own business and that the issue they are worried about is not their concern.
Joan Laporta stated, “Everybody needs to mind their own business,” when he was addressed concerning Athletic Club’s interventions and the Deer.
“Let them do the inspection,” implying confidence in Barcelona’s financial operations after years of hardly any activity on the market (going back to the 1:1 rule).
Joan Laporta was careful not to name the player in question but confirmed that Barcelona would be willing to take any market opportunities that arise, saying, “If it requires a release clause, we will do what we have to do.”
The player in question, as is being reported, is Nico Williams, who has an €62 million release clause, and Barcelona is ready to activate it, with wages agreed already.
This ongoing situation highlights Barcelona’s shift in strategy under Flick, who is making it clear that it is looking to add more dynamic attacking potential to include in its already large number of youth players, including Lamine Yamal and Gavi.
Even in the face of Athletic’s objection, it is clear that Barcelona is back on its feet financially after such rapid recovery, after selling assets and renovations going on at Camp Nou.
Although there is heat, Laporta’s chair will not rattle as Barcelona prepares for whatever it has to do to create a squad that can challenge in the Champions League and navigate LaLiga’s regulatory environment.
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