Garay, Alexanko, Zubizarreta, Nico Williams?

Nico Williams could be the fourth high-impact signing of an Athletic footballer in the history of FC Barcelona, if the Barça club’s plans come to fruition. The 22-year-old winger is the main goal of Barça to get an exciting and media reinforcement. A side effect of this interest is the tension generated by the acquisition of a top player from a club with Athletic’s tradition and self-esteem. This has happened in the past with three other football players who traveled from Bilbao to Barcelona: Jesús Garay, José Ramón Alexanko and Andoni Zubizarreta.

With the trio in question, at least, Athletic broke revenue records by agreeing to the sale of its references, because in the past there were no termination clauses of the contract as set by Williams in his last extension, which is 58 million euros, which is now seen as a price below its true market value.

In 1960, Jesús Garay (1930-1995) was the star of an operation that in its time gave many credits. His hiring required a financial effort of such magnitude that yielded the expansion of North Tribune of old San Mamés, ‘Cathedral’. The job didn’t last long popularly christened as the ‘Garay Tribune’, in honor of the money collected by a player who debuted in the first red and white team in 1950 and has been international since 1953. Although he played as a forward at Erandio, Garay made his career as a tall, strong center back and is a pioneer in getting the ball out cleanly. Athletic decided to sell owner to build North Tribune or Mercy Tribune. Garay was transferred to Barça for 6 million pesetas, at that time a potosí. Garay was a culé until 1965, winning only one Cup. He lost the European Cup in Berne against Benfica. He played 165 games, scored 5 goals and ended up in Málaga.

Twenty years later, in 1980, José Ramón Alexanko (1956) He is the second Athletic center back signed by Barça. This time there is no new gallery at La Catedral, but The sale in 1980 was the most expensive of a Spanish player to date: 100 million pesetas. Alexanko was at Barça between 1980 and 1993, playing alongside others including Diego Maradona and Bernd Schuster and captaining the Dream Team that won the first European Cup in 1992. After 518 games and 58 goals – as scored the 1988 Cup – He retired with 17 culé titles.

Although he was signed for 150 million pesetas In 1986, Andoni Zubizarreta (1961) will be remembered for being the goalkeeper of Johan Cruyff’s historic Barça.. After overcoming a difficult season by relegating Javier Urruti, the charismatic idol of the Camp NouZubi was the ‘1’ of the Dream Team and was there until 1994 to collect, among other titles, 4 consecutive Leagues and the first culé European Cup in 1992. After 494 games as a culé, the 4-0 in the Athens final (1994) marked his departure .

Nico Williams is, without a doubt, the fourth in a series of impact signings from Bilbao to Barcelona.