Former Barcelona president Joan Gaspart has predicted Nico Williams’ decision to renew his contract at Athletic Bilbao could spell trouble for the player and the Basque club.
Williams stunned La Liga last week by snubbing Barca’s advances – the Spanish champions had been hoping to lure him to Catalonia for the second summer in succession – and signing a new deal at San Mames.
The 22-year-old Spain winger penned a contract that ties him to Athletic until 2035 after being enticed by an improved financial package and the lure of remaining with his hometown club.
With that comes added expectation, both from inside and outside the dressing room.
Bilbao has the problem – Gaspart
Gaspart, who was Barca president between 2000 and 2003, told the ‘Only for Cules’ podcast: “Nico is a great player, but now Bilbao has the problem.
“When the players realise that they are earning half, half, half of what Nico earns, they will not like it. And the fans, if this player doesn’t score 50 goals, 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 also unimpressed by the former Portugal midfielder’s efforts.
He added: “There is no passion. That is not a criticism of Deco, who is a professional who is in Barcelona today and tomorrow he may be in another team that pays him more.
“I didn’t charge for doing what I did. I did it out of passion. And when you do it with passion, it’s very difficult for things to escape you.”
Lo que más pesa es el corazón ❤️#AthleticWIN #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/do1QvtqYbP
— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) July 4, 2025
This never happened when I signed Maradona and Rivaldo…
The 80-year-old was a vice-president at Camp Nou before ascending to the top role and believes his passionate approach helped the club sign world class talent.
“Barcelona is a club of passion. And the passion is not filled by a professional, it is carried by the one who has it. The one who does not charge for being from Barça,” he said.
“Maradona, Rivaldo, Zubizarreta, Bakero… I signed them all, something like this never happened to me.”
