Joan Laporta quizzed on whether Barcelona will Nico Williams’ release clause

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has been quizzed again on Nico Williams and Athletic Club amid tensions between the two teams over the proposed transfer.

Athletic Club have made it clear they are not happy with Barca’s pursuit of Williams due to their financial situation, with the Catalans expected to try and pay his release clause next week.

Laporta was at the Koeman Cup on Friday and offered up the following response when asked if Barca were set to pay the clause.

“Barça is prepared to, if a market opportunity involves paying a clause, do what corresponds,” he said, per Sport. “As we have nothing to hide from us to be supervised, there is no problem, but we do want everyone to be treated by the same standard as you say. We feel neither harmed nor persecuted. We do our thing.”

The Barca president was also pretty calm when asked about the current situation and Athletic’s complaints

“Everyone does what they think they have to do. We are doing what Barça have to do when it comes to taking advantage of opportunities that are in the market and following what our director of football and our coach tell us,” he added. “ I have nothing more to say about Athletic, let them do what they have to do. I respect what they do, as I expect me to respect what we do, “What Barça does concerns Barça and La Liga is aware that the clubs’ accounts have a significant degree of confidentiality. We are complying with all the requirements that LaLiga demands of us and fair play to be able to take advantage of market opportunities.”

It’s worth remembering that Nico did actually make the first move this summer, by asking his agent to set up a meeting with Deco to talk about a possible transfer to Barcelona.

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