Former Barcelona president Joan Gaspart has predicted Nico Williams’ resolution to resume his contract at Athletic Bilbao might spell bother for the participant and the Basque membership.
Williams surprised La Liga final week by snubbing Barca’s advances – the Spanish champions had been hoping to lure him to Catalonia for the second summer season in succession – and signing a brand new deal at San Mames.
The 22-year-old Spain winger penned a contract that ties him to Athletic till 2035 after being enticed by an improved monetary bundle and the lure of remaining together with his hometown membership.
With that comes added expectation, each from inside and out of doors the dressing room.
Bilbao has the issue – Gaspart
Gaspart, who was Barca president between 2000 and 2003, informed the ‘Just for Cules’ podcast: “Nico is a good participant, however now Bilbao has the issue.
“When the gamers realise that they’re incomes half, half, half of what Nico earns, they won’t prefer it. And the followers, if this participant doesn’t rating 50 objectives, they’re going to be snarling at him, huh?”
The failed pursuit of Williams has led to widespread criticism of Barca’s sporting director Deco and Gaspart was additionally unimpressed by the previous Portugal midfielder’s efforts.
He added: “There isn’t a ardour. That’s not a criticism of Deco, who’s knowledgeable who’s in Barcelona right this moment and tomorrow he could also be in one other group that pays him extra.
“I didn’t cost for doing what I did. I did it out of ardour. And if you do it with ardour, it’s very tough for issues to flee you.”
Lo que más pesa es el corazón ❤️#AthleticWIN #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/do1QvtqYbP
— Athletic Membership (@AthleticClub) July 4, 2025
This by no means occurred once I signed Maradona and Rivaldo…
The 80-year-old was a vice-president at Camp Nou earlier than ascending to the highest function and believes his passionate strategy helped the membership signal world class expertise.
“Barcelona is a membership of ardour. And the eagerness is just not crammed by knowledgeable, it’s carried by the one who has it. The one who doesn’t cost for being from Barça,” he stated.
“Maradona, Rivaldo, Zubizarreta, Bakero… I signed all of them, one thing like this by no means occurred to me.”