Stars refused Barcelona before Niko Williams, most of whom preferred Real Madrid sports

The failure of the transfer of Niko Williams from Athletic Bilbao to Barcelona, ​​a precedent experienced by the Catalan club before, especially in its modern history.

Last Friday, Athletic Bilbao announced the renewal of the contract of Niko Williams until the summer of 2035 at a time when the media indicated, especially those close to Barcelona, ​​but the Catalan club will pay the value of the penalty clause to include the player to his ranks.

Nico Williams, Who was Widily Reported to Be Close to Signing for Barcelona this Summer, has now ended his control with athletic Club Until 2035 🤯 pic.twitter.com/cwx9wj4sjm

– B/r Football (@BRFOTBAL) July 4, 2025

The Spanish newspaper “Mundo Deportivo” said that Niko Williams is not the first player to plan Barcelona to annex him and then choose another destination or renew his contract with his team.

She pointed out that in the 1950s Barcelona had agreed with River Plate to include legend Alfredo de Stefano, before the player signed Real Madrid in a controversial deal that carried political dimensions.

Away from this deal, Barcelona’s negotiating history, especially in the modern era, is full of such situations, we review the most prominent in the following lines:

Dennis Berkamb

After he led Barcelona to win the Champions League 1991-1992 season, the late Dutchman Johan Cruyff tried to persuade his compatriot Birgagb to join the Blaugrana, but the latter preferred Inter Milan and moved to the Italian team, specifically in February 1993.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtkobdk5nu8

As a result of Perkamb, Barcelona had a contract after months with the Brazilian goalkeeper Romario from Eindhoven in a short experience, but it was charming for the fans of the Catalan club.

Braidrag Megovich

Cruyff was dismissed from his post as a coach of Barcelona in 1996, 8 years after he received the important, and one of the reasons that prompted the administration for this decision was his refusal to sign the Valencia star Miavic.

Then Mijatovic moved to Real Madrid after paying the penalty clause that exceeded the barrier of 7 million euros, but with the change of the technical staff of Barcelona, ​​the administration managed to contract with the Brazilian phenomenon Ronaldo Nazario (19 years old) from Eindhoven as well.

David Beckham

During his election campaign for Barcelona’s presidency in 2003, Juan Laporta saw English David Beckham as an extraordinary star in order to return the club to the summit after 5 years without achieving major titles.

During this period, Beckham had the relationship with his former coach, Sir Alex Ferguson, and accordingly, Manchester United was open to his sale, after which Barcelona announced that he reached a preliminary agreement with the English club to include Beckham, but the player was convinced that the Real Madrid project was the best and he was signed for 35 million euros.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4tjmiejowg

Then Barcelona did the alternative plan and contracted with the Brazilian star Ronaldinho from Paris Saint -Germain for 25 million euros, and led the team to achieve two Champions League titles and the Champions League title.

Vinicius Junior

In 2017, Vinicius was standing at the gates of Barcelona who prepared to pay 30 million euros for Brazilian Flamingo (the value of the penalty clause), but Real Madrid intervened and raised the price to 45 million with additional commissions, to settle a deal that later proved its sporting success.

Arda Goller

Barcelona sports director Deco traveled to Türkiye in 2023 to complete the Guller deal for 17.5 million euros, but Real Madrid also intervened and kidnapped the player for 25 million euros.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfvxd26wdyk

Lucas Bergval

The Swedish player was about to join Barcelona from the Swedish Jururdins for 7 million euros, but he and his family visited Catalonia, but in the end, Tottenham Hotspur chose to pay 10 million euros.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiwvl59atesg

This rejection contributed to the emergence of a number of Barcelona’s Lamasia Academy players such as Mark Bernal and Mark Casado during the 2024-2025 season.