Nico Williams Prioritizing Barcelona Move

Written by Oluwadamilola Olaleye

After a failed summer move due to financial constraints, Nico Williams is giving priority to Barcelona again this summer despite concrete, improved offer from Bayern Munich and Arsenal. Athletic Club have also offered him a new deal that will make him one of the highest earners in the club and are surprised he is in contact with the reigning LaLiga champions as uncertainty mulls around his future.

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Barcelona are actively seeking to strengthen their attack with a new left winger this summer, and Liverpool’s Luis Díaz has emerged as their preferred option. As per Mundo Deportivo, this preference is largely due to the complications surrounding a potential move for Nico Williams.

Athletic Club are insisting on the full payment of Williams’ €64 million release clause for any transfer to be considered, a condition that Barcelona view internally as a significant hurdle. While clubs like Bayern Munich and Arsenal are reportedly willing to meet that figure, Barcelona, facing financial constraints, are currently unwilling to commit to such a high outlay.

Nico Williams, for his part, appears increasingly open to a move away from Athletic Club, with strong interest coming from both Arsenal and Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Barcelona have shifted their focus toward Liverpool’s Luis Díaz, actively pursuing his signing this summer.

This change in direction signals that the Catalan club may no longer view Williams as a viable option, especially given the financial implications. Compared to triggering Williams’ costly release clause, a deal for Díaz is seen as more financially manageable, making him a more practical target in the current market.

Read Also – What Barcelona’s Financial Struggles Could Mean To Their Title Aspirations

Nico Williams reportedly has asked his agent to approach Barcelona in order to gauge whether they remain interested in signing him this summer. The Spanish international has even held initial talks with new Barça coach Hansi Flick. The news of this contact took Athletic Club by surprise, with reports claiming that Williams’ agent, Felix Tainta, attempted to keep the meeting under wraps.

Tainta allegedly told Athletic he was visiting friends in Barcelona, when in reality, he met with Barça sporting director Deco. Despite this development, Athletic Club remain confident they can hold on to the winger and are still pushing to extend his current contract, which runs until 2027.

However, with a €62 million release clause in place, they would be powerless to stop his departure if a club decides to activate it. While Williams’ interest in Barcelona persists, the club’s financial situation makes a move unlikely, especially with their focus now firmly on Liverpool’s Luis Díaz.

As a result, if Williams is determined to take the next step in his career, his most realistic options may lie with Arsenal or Bayern Munich or alternatively, he could opt to commit his future to Athletic and sign a new deal.

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