LA LIGA PRESIDENT WEIGHS IN ON BARCELONA-ATHLETIC CLUB TIFF OVER NICO WILLIAMS - 'WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE REGULATIONS'

Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images For Sporte

Barcelona and Athletic Club are at a silent war over the Nico Williams saga. After all, the Catalans are close to signing the Basque superstar and Athletic Club are anything but pleased with the development.

At this point, they have done everything in their capacity to complicate the transfer but they crossed a limit earlier this week by meeting with La Liga representatives to express concern about Barcelona’s financial situation.

Tebas speaks on the case

Speaking to the media via Mundo Deportivo and clarifying the recent incidents in an interview, La Liga president Javier Tebas brought out the truth about the conversation Athletic Club had with him.

“Bilbao complained because Deco’s statement expressed his desire to sign the player,” he said, bringing out the intention behind the Basque club’s approach.

“According to FIFA regulations, he is in a protected period, and we have no authority to interfere with that,” he added.

Elaborating on the implications on Barcelona and what the club must be wary of, he said,

"What we will do, as we have always done, is that FC Barcelona will have to comply with the regulations in order to register players, whether it is Nico Williams, Haaland, Messi, whoever. And we will not change anything.”

Tebas also took an indirect dig towards the Athletic Club for releasing a public statement on the matter and how it was unnecessary.

“Athletic Club Bilbao doesn’t need to issue any statement. It’s our duty to clarify doubts about Financial Fair Play. We are transparent.”

"We don’t reveal the deep economic details of clubs, but it is known that there was a meeting of the Division Committee in February, in which the reasons for the salary caps were explained, and the situation of Barcelona was explained because we have the Olmo case,” he added on how Athletic Club knew of Barcelona’s situation.

Tebas also confirmed that Barcelona are still not in the 1:1 rule but that they are not far from reaching it.

“Barcelona doesn’t have a 1-1 rule, and I hope they achieve it as soon as possible. They already know what they need to do to be in the rule.”

“Bilbao also knows what Barcelona must do, because we were very transparent in February so that no one would question Financial Fair Play,” he concluded.

- Adithya Eshwarla

SON HEUNG- MIN LIFTS 1ST TROPHY AS TOTTENHAM BEAT MAN UNITED FOR EUROPA LEAGUE TITLE

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- For the first time in his 15-year European career, Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean captain Son Heung-min can finally call himself a champion.

Tottenham defeated fellow Premier League side Manchester United 1-0 in the final of the UEFA Europa League at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, on Wednesday (local time). Brennan Johnson scored the match's only goal in the 42nd minute and Spurs held on tenaciously for their first trophy in 17 years.

Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur (L) battles Leny Yoro of Manchester United for the ball during the UEFA Europa League final at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, on May 21, 2025, in this Associated Press photo. (Yonhap)

Son, who replaced Richarlison in the 67th minute, lifted the first trophy of his club career, which began in 2010 with Hamburger SV in Germany.

Son joined Spurs in 2015. He had played and lost in two major finals with the North London club -- at the 2019 UEFA Champions League and the 2021 English Football League (EFL) Cup. The team's most recent trophy before this week had come at the 2008 EFL Cup.

Johnson put Spurs on the board late in the first half when his shot, set up by a Pape Sarr cross, deflected off defender Luke Shaw on its way into the net.

Man United kept pushing for the equalizer that never came, as Spurs successfully locked things down in their own end in the second half.

Spurs dodged a couple of bullets. Defender Micky van de Ven cleared the ball heading into the gaping net with a dramatic volley above the goal line in the 68th minute. In the dying seconds, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made a match-saving stop on a header by Shaw.

Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur (R) is challenged by Patrick Dorgu of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League final at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, on May 21, 2025, in this Associated Press photo. (Yonhap)

- Yoo Jee-ho

MANCHESTER UNITED AND TOTTENHAM SET TO TRIGGER HUGE £1B N WINDFALL, IT'S NEVER HAPPENED IN PREMIER LEAGUE BEFORE

The Europa League final between Tottenham and Manchester United is already rich with narrative – and the finances behind the clash in Bilbao are far, far bigger than just UEFA prize money.

For Tottenham, who have the chance to end a 17-year silverware drought, it could turn a season which has been historic for all the wrong reasons into one that will be cherished by fans forever.

For Manchester United, finals are usually about glory, but this one is more about saving face.

It’s a remarkable lifeline for both clubs, who have each failed to reach the 40-point mark in the Premier League that has historically been the benchmark for avoiding relegation.

Europa League final: Champions League qualification cash is just the start for Spurs and Man United

By now, readers will be well aware of what is at stake financially in terms of Champions League qualification, which winning the Europa League delivers.

Before a ball is kicked in next season’s Champions League, whoever wins the 2024-25 Europa League final will have earned more than £50m from UEFA, with performance-related bonuses taking potential winnings north of £100m. The new 36-team format is extraordinarily lucrative.

Photo by Alex Caparros – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Incidentally, UEFA introduced the NEW model to placate former Super League clubs, including Spurs and the Red Devils, who have consistently lobbied for more money-spinning European fixtures even if for Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou the rigours of a bloated matchday calendar are a fitness headache.

This is the reality of football finance, however. It’s the same system that allowed Tottenham and Manchester United to spend a combined £922m on their squads last season.

Winning the Europa League would carve out precious headroom under Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which Sir Jim Ratcliffe needs to rebuild the club and justify his brutal programme of job cuts and price rises since INEOS became United’s largest individual shareholder last year.

Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

For Daniel Levy and ENIC, the final at San Mames is as much about their legacy in North London as it is about finance.

But while Spurs have no PSR issues, real-world cash is another matter.

Under their self-sufficient ownership model, the guarantee of Champions League revenue next season would be a game-changer in respect of their ability to compete in the transfer market.

Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images

And, as the latest analysis from TBR Football shows, the ripple effect from the Europa League final will be felt well beyond San Mames, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Old Trafford.

Manchester United and Tottenham set to see Premier League smash £1bn financial record

Matchday income is cool again.

For years, the narrative among fans – and indeed in some boardrooms – was that the money that clubs generated through the turnstiles was insignificant compared to TV revenue.

However, Tottenham were ahead of the curve when they built their new stadium in N17 as Premier League clubs are turning to matchday income once more to give them a competitive financial edge.

Manchester United, of course, are planning perhaps the most ambitious stadium build in football history, with a new build near the existing Old Trafford expected to accommodate 100,000 fans.

Last season, Premier League clubs generated £922m through the turnstiles.

Given that the Man United vs Tottenham Europa League final guarantees that there will be six teams in the Champions League next season and, after Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph over Man City, at least nine teams in Europe in total, that figure will rise again next season.

Both Tottenham and Man United would expect to break their single-season matchday income records of £137m and £118m respectively.

Everton meanwhile are expected to almost triple their matchday income at their new stadium, while Leeds United’s promotion means there is another big-ticket club in the Premier League.

Combined with dozens of extra matches for Premier League clubs in Europe, total matchday income across the division will surpass £1bn for the very first time.

Europa League triumph will transform summer transfer window for Spurs or Red Devils

Given that either Spurs or Man United will get £50m-plus in extra revenue next season, the winner of the Europa League final will go into the summer transfer window on much surer footing.

After woeful seasons, both clubs need funds to strengthen. Without the guaranteed UEFA money, that would likely mean far more player trading, as opposed to concentrating on incoming transfers.

Spurs are 100 per cent guaranteed to pass both the Premier League and UEFA’s PSR assessments for the current campaign.

PSR infographic. Credit: Adam Williams, GRV Media

Man United will be closer to the line but are also expected to be ultimately okay.

But with liquid cash at a premium in both N17 and M16, the security of Champions League income would change everything ahead of a crucial window.

- Adam Williams

MANCHESTER UNITED MAKE IT INTO THE FINAL OF THE EUROPA LEAGUE

 

ARSENE WENGER CALLS FOR MAN UNITED OR TOTTENHAM TO BE STRIPPED OF A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLACE NEXT SEASON AND REQUESTS EUROPA LEAGUE RULE CHANGE

• Manchester United and Tottenham are set to meet in the Europa League final 

• The winner of that showdown will secure a spot in the Champions League 

Arsene Wenger believes Manchester United or Tottenham should not be allowed to compete in the Champions League next season even if they win the Europa League.

United and Spurs are set to meet in the final in Bilbao on May 21 after securing aggregate leads heading into this week's semi-final second leg ties.

Ruben Amorim's side thrashed Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the away leg while Spurs beat Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt 3-1 to move a step closer to a first trophy since 2008. 

However, both clubs are now guaranteed to finish outside of the Premier League's European qualification spots - with United 15th and Spurs in 16th.

UEFA changed its rules in 2014 to allow the winners of the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League, but Wenger believes this is 'not right'. 

Former Arsenal boss Wenger told BeIN Sports: 'No. They should qualify automatically for the Europa League but not necessarily for the Champions League.

Arsene Wenger says Europa League winners should not qualify for the Champions League

Manchester United and Tottenham are set to face off in the final in Bilbao on May 21

Wenger believes a rule change is needed so that the winners remain in the competition again

'Especially when you're in the Premier League where already five teams qualify.

'I think it's something [for UEFA] to think about and to review.

'On the other hand people will tell you that to keep the Europa League focused, interesting and motivated you need to give them that prize [Champions League].' 

Since the rebranding of the Europa League, UEFA's second biggest continental club competition, in 2009-10, no team lower than 12th has reached the final or won it.

Sevilla, 12th in LaLiga, lifted the trophy in 2023 while Fulham, who also finished 12th in the Premier League in the 2009-10 campaign, lost the final to Atletico Madrid in 2010.

United won the Europa League in 2018 during Jose Mourinho's first season in charge and qualified for the Champions League despite finishing in sixth place. 

Speaking after his side's 4-3 defeat by Brentford on Sunday, their 16th league loss of the season, Amorim admitted his focus is now solely on Europe. 

'I think it's stressful to lose games,' said Amorim. '[But] when we're fighting for a title it's not stressful. I have no doubts that we are playing better and we are understanding the way we play, even in this context.

Ruben Amorim placed all his eggs in one basket after United's horror Premier League campaign

Ange Postecoglou is in the same situation as he looks to secure Spurs' first trophy since 2008

United won the Europa League under Jose Mourinho in 2016 to reach the Champions League

'So we have to take all the hits in this moment. 

'We are losing games in the Premier League, but we are fighting for the Europa League so we need to accept that and to think about Thursday now.

'This is the most important game for us.'

Wenger departed Arsenal in 2018 before being appointed FIFA's head of global football development a year later. He has proposed a raft of controversial changes, including tweaks to the offside rule and a biennial World Cup.

- DANIEL DAVIS

ROAD TO BILBAO | UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE