Athletic Bilbao Firm on Aymeric Laporte Price for Barcelona

Athletic Bilbao have sent a blunt message to Barcelona: if you want Aymeric Laporte, pay up in full.

The Basque club, already bristling after the Nico Williams saga, have reacted angrily to renewed reports in Catalonia linking Laporte with a move to the Spotify Camp Nou this summer. His World Cup displays have only poured fuel on the fire.

Laporte formed a commanding partnership with Pau Cubarsí during the tournament, the pair locking down opposition attacks and conceding just a single goal on the way to the Matador’s title. That run has sharpened Barcelona’s focus. They see a ready‑made leader who already understands their emerging defensive jewel.

But Bilbao see something else: a familiar pattern.

Reports in "Sport" detailing Barça’s interest have gone down badly at San Mamés. Club sources, cited by the newspaper, insist the defender’s release clause is far higher than the figures being tossed around in the media. Numbers between 12 and 15 million euros have been widely mentioned. Bilbao have dismissed those valuations, making it clear the real clause is closer to double that range.

In other words, there will be no discounts, no friendly negotiations, no soft landings. Laporte is under contract until the summer of 2028, and Athletic intend to use every ounce of that leverage.

The stance is as much about principle as it is about money. Still simmering over how the Nico Williams chase played out, Bilbao believe Barcelona are once again circling a cornerstone of their project. The response has been to dig in, hard.

For Barcelona, the equation is complicated even before they reach the fee. Hansi Flick already has a crowded centre-back department: Pau Cubarsí, Eric García, Gerard Martín, Ronald Araújo and Andreas Christensen are all on the books. Any move for Laporte would first demand an exit from that group to balance both the squad and the accounts.

So the situation is clear. If Barcelona truly want to reunite Laporte with Cubarsí and rebuild their defence around that World Cup axis, they will have to sell, then spend big.

The next move belongs to them.