Nico Williams’ agent reveals why Barcelona move collapsed: “He’s a Formula 1 car”

Nico Williams’ agent, Félix Tainta, has broken his silence on the winger’s failed move to Barcelona in the summer of 2025, revealing the reasons behind the collapse of the proposed transfer.

Speaking on the Los Fulanos podcast, Tainta explained that the Athletic Club winger had been keen to take the next step in his career by joining a club capable of competing for major trophies. His performances had also attracted interest from several European heavyweights, including Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain. However, the decisive obstacle to a move to Barcelona was the lack of firm guarantees over Williams’ registration and his ability to secure regular playing time.

“There comes a point in negotiations when a player like Nico cannot afford to just sit and watch without playing. Nico is a Formula 1 car: if I come to your house, I cannot take on your problems, and I made that very clear to Barcelona,” Tainta said. He added: “We decided that, without firm guarantees, we could not take the risk of Nico going there only to find himself unable to play, especially with a World Cup approaching. And beyond the World Cup, he is still a professional who needs to be able to do his job.”