Laporta responds to rumors: Ready to pay Williams termination

As the two clubs are increasingly tense about this potential transfer relationship, Barcelona President Juan Laporta once again responded to issues related to Nico Williams and Athletic Bilbao.

Athletic Bilbao has made it clear that given Barcelona's current financial situation, they are dissatisfied with Barcelona's pursuit of Williams. It is generally expected that the Catalan giants will try to activate the players' termination clause next week.

Laporta was asked whether Barcelona was ready to pay the termination fee when attending the Koeman Cup event on Friday.

"If there is an opportunity in the market that requires us to pay the termination clause, then Barcelona is ready to do what we should do," he responded through the Sports News.

"We have nothing to hide, we are willing to accept supervision, and there is no problem. But we do also hope that everyone will be treated by the same set of standards as you said. We do neither hurt nor persecuted. We just do our own business."

When asked about the current tensions and the complaints from Bilbao, the Barcelona president also showed a fairly calm.

"Everyone is doing what they think they should do. And we are following the instructions of our football director and head coach, seizing opportunities in the market and doing what Barcelona should do," he added.

"I have nothing to say about Athletic Bilbao. They do what they should do. I respect what they do and hope they respect what we do."

"What Barcelona does is only about Barcelona itself. La Liga also knows that the accounts of each club are of considerable confidentiality. We are abiding by all La Liga requirements for us and abide by the rules of financial fair play so that we can seize opportunities in the market."

It is worth mentioning that it is actually Nico Williams himself who took the lead in taking the first step this summer. He had asked his agent to arrange a meeting with Barcelona sports director Deco to discuss the possibility of a transfer.