That adrenaline rushes are not lacking at FC Barcelona is nothing new. But the latest episode in the always exciting blaugrana soap opera of the transfer market undoubtedly deserves special attention.
Unfortunately, the Nico Williams case has closed too soon, leaving Barça very touched and without time to react. The disappointment suffered last summer seemed overcome and, moreover, all the information clearly pointed in the same direction: Barcelona.
The agreement with Nico was a fact and, according to almost all sources, his signing was only a matter of time. The joy was palpable in the environment, finally, only a summer later, the culé team was about to get the player to continue "pissing" on himself, but this time dressed in blaugrana.
Unfortunately, Athletic once again demonstrated "how great it is" with another masterful lesson. With everything against them, at San Mamés they set the goal of turning around a situation that was already practically closed and ready for sentencing. An impossible.
Athletic cares about Barça's finances
While in the offices of the Camp Nou there was an atmosphere of euphoria with the cava already prepared to celebrate the signing of the summer, Athletic starred in movements calculated to the millimeter.
Far from entering a hostile scenario with Barcelona, the Bilbao club surprised by "giving its support" and "showing its interest" in "helping" the culé team with the problem with financial fair play.
The gesture, "absolutely disinterested and altruistic", demonstrated that LaLiga, little by little, is recovering its greatness and also offers truly beautiful moments and gestures between the clubs that make it up.
Urgent meeting with Tebas to "help" Barcelona
The gesture, now a historic moment of brotherhood in the championship, did not remain only in words. The Bilbao club decided to go one step further. They organized an urgent meeting with the highest authority of the competition to learn firsthand about Barcelona's financial situation and "help" in any way they could.
In Barcelona, they couldn't believe such a gesture, that your sports rivals care about you and try to help you in that way is very exciting. That same day, "thousands of culé fans took to the streets -with tears in their eyes, most of them- to thank from the bottom of their hearts for so much solidarity." Barça was not alone, now we all know it.
But Laporta and his board were not in the mood, and incomprehensibly decided to continue with the signing of the Navarrese player. Not even the attempt by the president of the league, calling for responsibility and common sense -warning the whole world -in good faith- that "they could not register the player", stopped the blaugrana nonsense. Incredible.
Athletic has needed 140 million to retain Nico
They say that time puts everything in its place, and that is possibly what ended up happening. Late at night, in Bilbao they decided to activate the last phase of the plan, in a "all or nothing" bet within the reach of a few chosen ones.
Contract from 2025 to 2035 = 10 years
14M euros x year x 10 years = 140M euros
It was a surgical, unexpected and audacious movement. The night of Thursday, July 3 was not just another night in Bilbao. Under total discretion, Athletic and Nico Williams' environment finished gestating an agreement that already represents one of the most resounding outcomes of recent years, in terms of signings.
"What weighs the most is the heart"
The 22-year-old striker renewed until 2035, increasing his termination clause to 95 million euros, that is, 37 'kilos' more compared to his previous price (58 M€). The Spanish international will receive a salary starting at 7 million net per season (14 M€ gross), consolidating himself as the player with the biggest heart in the history of Athletic.
The renewal video was recorded on the night of Thursday (July 3). On the other hand, Athletic, supposedly, communicated to Barcelona the 8-year renewal of the player on Friday morning, which disconcerted the culé board. All this happened before the official announcement on social networks.
In Bilbao they will continue to be "pissed on" and "changing diapers" until 2035
That morning Barcelona fell defeated, humiliated and forced to accept that, it will be the all-powerful Atletic who will continue to be "pissed on" and it will also be the only club with the privilege of continuing to change -and pay for- the diapers.
Nico ended up renewing with the team of his loves and, as often happens, "a heart valued at 14 million annually weighed more". Without a doubt, a beautiful love story that shows that sometimes in football, money is not the most important thing. It is the only important thing.
It is also funny that, after negotiating for the second consecutive summer with half of Europe without ever denying anything and in broad daylight so that all Athletic fans were informed, some want to tarnish this beautiful story with lies.
Nico has amply demonstrated his love for Athletic and, if at any time doubts arose, these were caused only by Milka and Oreo, we all know that it is not easy to decide on just one of the two.
And the accusations of Bayern against Bilbo? More lies. They have invented that they have raised the clause to be able to get more profit from its sale. How sad to have to invent those things.
Nico prefers industrial pastries
Let's not fool ourselves, Barcelona is the real and true winner of all this. Investing so much money in such young players can be very dangerous, many times they are not able to decide if they want Milka or they want Oreo and, worst of all, other times they are not able to distinguish between "industrial pastries" and "haute artisan pastry."
Someday, Nico will grow up and discover that in life there are unique, special and incomparable things, light years away from Milka and Oreo: Crema Catalana, Italian Tiramisu, French Coulant, New York Cheesecake, English Brownie, Argentine Alfajores, French Tarte Tatin and macarons, Austrian Sacher cake, Japanese Mochis, Belgian waffles, Red Velvet cake.
Luckily, Barça will not wake up "pissed on" and over time will save a lot of money on diapers. Deco and Hansi Flick are already working on serious signings, the real ones: Luis Díaz, the Colombian jewel of Liverpool, and Marcus Rashford, the talented English striker of Manchester United.
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