Overview

• Barcelona’s sporting director says Nico Williams was offered to the club by his agent and was not the exact attacking profile sought, as the staff prioritized someone who could also cover the No. 9 role.
• Deco says Barcelona refused conditions imposed during negotiations, set a response deadline that went unanswered, and rejects claims the breakdown was about registration guarantees.
• After discussions ended, Williams signed a long-term extension with Athletic Club, keeping him in Bilbao.
• Barcelona instead added Marcus Rashford on a simple loan with an option to buy, and Deco says the forward is already delivering the expected impact.
• Deco recounts that Liverpool would not sell Luis Díaz, calling a deal “impossible,” before the winger joined Bayern Munich, underscoring a market shaped by tough counterparts and LaLiga fair‑play limits.