Athletic Bilbao Rejects Barcelona's Low Offer for Laporte

Athletic Bilbao have delivered a blunt response to Barcelona’s interest in Aymeric Laporte: if you want him, pay every last cent.

Laporte, fresh from a superb World Cup in which he formed a rock-solid partnership with Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí, has moved to the top of the Catalan club’s defensive wishlist this summer. The pair were at the heart of the Matador’s triumph, conceding just one goal throughout the entire tournament and giving Barcelona a first-hand look at what their back line could look like with Laporte in it.

That vision has run into Basque steel.

According to Sport, sources inside Athletic insist the release clause in Laporte’s contract is far higher than the figures being floated in recent days. Reports suggesting a clause between 12 and 15 million euros have been dismissed out of hand in Bilbao, where officials are adamant the real number is close to double that range.

This is not just a negotiation. It is a statement.

Athletic are still bristling from the Nico Williams saga and view Barcelona’s latest move as another attempt to prise away a cornerstone of their project. The leak of Barça’s interest in Laporte, revealed recently by Sport, has only sharpened the mood at San Mamés. The message coming back down the motorway is clear: there will be no discounts, no friendly compromises, no “Barça tax” in reverse.

Laporte is under contract until the summer of 2028, a powerful piece of leverage for Athletic. With that security, the club sees no reason to entertain offers below the full clause, especially for a defender whose reputation has just been burnished on the biggest international stage.

For Barcelona, the attraction is obvious. Laporte knows La Liga, is comfortable on the ball, and has already shown with Cubarsí that he can anchor an elite defence. The chemistry between the two at the World Cup has only intensified the feeling at the Spotify Camp Nou that he would slide seamlessly into Hansi Flick’s plans.

There is a complication. The squad is already crowded at centre-back.

Flick currently has five defenders in that position: Pau Cubarsí, Eric García, Gerard Martín, Ronald Araújo and Andreas Christensen. Any move for Laporte would require an exit first, both to free up space in the dressing room and to ease the financial strain of another major contract.

So Barcelona stand at a familiar crossroads: a player they like, a price they do not, and a selling club in no mood to bend. Athletic have drawn their line. The next move, and the next sacrifice, will have to come from Barcelona.