Bilbao raise Laporte’s clause to block Barcelona
Athletic Bilbao have decided to play hardball. Faced with Barcelona’s declared interest in Aymeric Laporte, the Basque club warned that the defender’s release clause costs far more than is being speculated, and that they do not intend to do the Catalans any favours.
A direct message to the Catalan rival
Sources close to Bilbao insist the real value of the clause far exceeds the figures going around. While rumours talk of something between 12 and 15 million euros, executives at the Basque club deny that figure and claim the true amount is as much as double that. It is no small sum, and the message is clear: whoever wants Laporte pays in full, with no discounts.
The defender’s contract with Bilbao runs until the summer of 2028, which reinforces the club’s position of strength in the negotiation. There is no rush to sell, and that contractual calm weighs in the Basques’ favour.
Wounds still open from the Nico Williams affair
Bilbao’s irritation did not arise now. The episode involving Nico Williams, a recent Barcelona target, left its marks, and the Basque board once again felt that the Catalan club has its eye on another of their most valuable pieces. That distrust partly explains the tougher stance now adopted regarding Laporte.
Laporte on the rise after the World Cup and the logjam in the Blaugrana squad
The timing could not be more opportune for the player. Alongside Pau Cubarsí, Laporte formed a solid partnership in the Spanish defence throughout the World Cup, contributing directly to the title triumph, with only one goal conceded in the entire tournament. A defensive campaign like that draws attention, and Barcelona have not hidden their interest.
But there is a practical detail that complicates any negotiation: Hansi Flick already has five defenders available, among them Pau Cubarsí, Eric García, Gerard Martín, Ronald Araújo and Andreas Christensen. Bringing in Laporte would therefore first require an exit in that sector, which makes the operation even more complex, even if the money for the clause appears.
