Victor Font, a former presidential candidate at Barcelona, has accused current president Joan Laporta of misleading fans about the club’s ability to sign Nico Williams.
A €58m (£49m) release clause saw Nico Williams attract significant interest from Europe’s elite this summer, with Arsenal and Chelsea joining Barcelona in their bid to sign the Euro 2024 winner.
Despite the club’s well-known financial problems, Joan Laporta has long insisted that Barcelona have a real chance of signing Williams, promising that enough work has been done behind the scenes to raise the necessary funds.
Font, however, has insisted a move for Williams has never been a true possibility.
“I wish we could sign Nico Williams as it is what we need,” Font told The Athletic. “The president has said it is possible, but that is not true. Today, it cannot be done.
“We hope it will be possible tomorrow, or the following day. But today, it is not.”
Font continued: “We socios want to dream and to believe what we are being told. The problem is we’ve had three summers of being told all is fine, we’ll sign players and it’s all resolved.
“With every year that passes the credibility is falling. And this summer, if promises are not fulfilled, credibility will fall even further.”
Joan Laporte’s stance may be meaningless when all is said and done, as reports suggest Williams has already decided to stay at Athletic Club for at least one more season.
FC Barcelona are currently focused on closing a deal for another UEFA Euro 2024 winner, midfielder Dani Olmo. Talks continue with RB Leipzig over a deal that could be worth over €60m (£51m).
