La Liga chief accused of sabotaging Barcelona's move for Nico Williams by disclosing secret information to Athletic Bilbao – before Spanish winger signed shock new deal

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has been accused of sabotaging Barcelona’s summer move for Nico Williams by disclosing secret financial information to Athletic Bilbao.

Williams, who was expected to leave Athletic Bilbao this summer with Barcelona, Arsenal and Bayern Munich all interested in a potential move, signed a shock new deal with the Basque club to increase his €58million (£50m) release clause by a whopping 50 per cent.

Barcelona led the race for Williams prior to the Spaniard’s new extension and were reportedly on the brink of agreeing a deal with the player, having shown a willingness to trigger his original £50m release clause.

Williams joining Barcelona would have seen him link up with international team-mate Lamine Yamal, who enjoyed a superb season with the Catalans last season en route to winning the LaLiga title. 

However, according to a revelation made by Miguel Galan, the president of the National Centre for Football Coaches (CENAFE) in Spain, LaLiga chief Tebas allegedly shared confidential information about Barcelona’s finances to Bilbao’s board of directors, which consisted of financial statements and audit reports.

As claimed in Galan’s revelation on social media, the data was passed on by Athletic Bilbao to the player and his entourage in an effort to make Williams hesitant over a move to the Nou Camp.

Williams signed a shock new deal with Athletic Bilbao after being on the brink of joining Barca

According to a revelation made by CENAFE president Miguel Galan on social media, Tebas allegedly shared secret information about Barcelona’s finances to Bilbao’s board of directors

It is understood that guarantees put into personal terms by Williams’ agent had ultimately affected a potential agreement with Barcelona.

According to reports, there were also concerns over whether Barcelona would have been able to register Williams as a player due to their financial difficulties. 

Had they signed Williams it is likely that Barcelona would have been required to sell several players in order to register him.

Barcelona will now have to turn their attention elsewhere in their pursuit of a new winger, with Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford among those to have been previously linked with a move to the Nou Camp.