A former coach of Athletic Bilbao winger and Barcelona target Nico Williams has offered his opinion on how the ongoing transfer saga involving the Spanish international could be having a negative effect on the player.
Current Villarreal manager Marcelino García Torral, who gave Nico his debut at Athletic back in 2021 when Marcelino was in charge at the Basque Country, was asked in an interview this week how the rumors of a move to the Catalan capital could be impacting Nico.
The coach offered his two cents, saying that Barça should avoid unnecessary drama by paying Nico’s release clause as soon as possible, and their delay in doing so is having a negative effect on Williams, who, according to his former boss, “is not having a good time” as he tries to deal with what is perceived to be an ugly separation from his current club.
Marcelino also spoke about Barcelona president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco, and believes the two should offer “fewer complains” and “be more serious” when it comes to their transfer dealings.
“It’s not easy, but [they are] making it so complicated… He’s in a complicated position, and I think it could have been avoided. It could all have been simpler if you want to sign a player and have the money. Nico, whom I love very much, is not having a good time.
“You can talk, but when you announce an agreement, you have to be sure of the next step you’re going to take. It seems to me that being more serious means getting everything done in a timely manner, with greater speed, less murmuring and fewer complaints about everything.”
Source: Carrusel Deportivo via MARCA
Marcelino is certainly entitled to his opinion and seems to have a genuine affection for Nico Williams, but the player himself is fully aware that Barça plan to pay his release clause next week, and are choosing to do so to balance their books appropriately, not because they don’t have the money as Marcelino seems to insinuate.
As for his comments about Laporta, Barça’s president only spoke in response to Athletic’s accusation that they don’t have the means to complete Nico’s transfer, even though the club is fully confident, according to several reports, that there will be enough salary cap space to register both Nico and new goalkeeper Joan Garcia, as well as any other new signings that are made in the summer window.
Once again, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Even if it’s a little dumb and out of place.