Barca chief Laporta does not 'understand' Athletic's reaction

The possible signing of Nico Williams by FC Barcelona has sparked an all-out institutional war between the Catalan side and Athletic Club, who are outraged and hurt by the almost certain departure of their star player.

The Basque side are planning to talk to La Liga and the RFEF to find out the Catalan side's financial situation and see if they are within the 1:1 rule for signings, as well as looking closely at future moves by the 'Cules'. A reaction that has caused astonishment in Barcelona, as expressed by a perplexed Joan Laporta.

"We don't have bad relations with Athletic, there have been a series of misunderstandings and incidents in recent years, but it can't be said that we have bad relations, we are two clubs with a long history and with long-standing relations, I don't understand the reactions they are having, with all due respect, let everyone worry about their own, I don't understand why they are going to talk to La Liga about Barca, I think it's not appropriate, but they should know what they are doing", said the Barca president in an address to the media.

On the aforementioned 1:1 rule, Laporta himself assured that the club is working on it. "We were already in it in the winter market, all the steps have been taken to be able to sign normally, so as not to be financially intervened with the fair play as happened until winter, we have to comply with certain parameters, which is what we are doing and depending on that we can sign and register the two players we want to sign... or register", he explained.

Throughout his statements on the matter, Laporta made no mention of Nico Williams. "Let me not talk about names, we are attentive to all the opportunities that are on the market," he said. He did when it came to talking about the departure of Ansu Fati, which seems to have been fully agreed. "If everything goes well, we will have good news this week and he will go to Monaco," he said.