Earlier on Friday, we covered a story in Sport about Barcelona’s interest in Willian José.
The Catalan side could end up being allowed to sign a new forward outside the transfer window if they can prove that Ousmane Dembélé will be out for at least five months following his operation next Tuesday.
The newspaper explained the Real Sociedad forward was one of two names being looked at by the La Liga champions and would be an ‘endorsed’ arrival, as Quique Setién likes what the 28-year-old has to offer, having managed him previously at Las Palmas.
There were even claims that both sides were already ‘thinking’ about how to get a deal done, but that doesn’t appear to actually be the case, according to Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay.
Speaking to Radio Marca, he said: “We haven’t had a conversation with anyone. I don’t know what will happen. It’s true the market is close. I can’t say much. Willian José is a player who has been the object of desire of several teams in January and we all know that Barcelona are looking for a striker.
“I don’t know if they’ll call us, but they haven’t done it yet. He’s an important player for us and we would surely miss him. We have many games left and we need everyone”.
Aperribay also commented on José’s behaviour during the transfer window, as the Brazilian tried to force a move to Tottenham after the Premier League club came knocking for his services to stand in in Harry Kane’s absence.
The president labelled the 28-year-old’s actions ‘a mistake’, but admitted they could not remain ‘angry’ with his behaviour going forward as ‘you also have to know how to forgive’.
He explained Willian José’s behaviour in the previous three and a half years had been ‘beyond reproach’, and while this all came from Tottenham’s interest, they had not yet received anything concrete from Barcelona.
First, the Catalan club need to be given the green light to buy a new player outside the transfer window.
Until then, all appears to be going back to normal for Real Sociedad.
