🔷 1. Barcelona’s Initial Priority: Nico Williams
- After his standout 2023–24 season and heroics at Euro 2024 with Spain, Nico Williams emerged as Barça’s top target. The club activated his €48–55 million release clause, but he chose to stay at Athletic Bilbao—a decision driven by both loyalty and Barca’s registration issues (90min.com, footballtransfers.com).
- Reports indicated that key Barça players like Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Baldé personally messaged him to persuade him to join (barcablaugranes.com). Additionally, Nico himself later confirmed that Barcelona remained his preferred destination among Premier League suitors (barcablaugranes.com).
🔷 2. Waning Nico Interest — Shift to Alternatives
- As Barca’s financial constraints tightened and Nico himself declined to leave, interest cooled. Recent reports state that Barcelona is not actively pursuing Nico Williams this summer (90min.com).
- With Nico off the table, Barcelona’s focus moved to other options—primarily Liverpool’s Luis DÃaz, AC Milan’s Rafael Leão, and a secondary option: Marcus Rashford (as.com).
🔷 3. Rashford’s Emergence as a Backup Option
- After Nico’s departure from consideration, Hansi Flick reportedly proposed Marcus Rashford as a solid alternative for the left wing (football365.com).
- However, financial concerns (his hefty wages) and doubts over his consistency have dampened enthusiasm. It’s a more complicated and expensive proposition compared to the club’s other targets .
📊 Summary Table
| Player | Interest Level | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Nico Williams | Top candidate | Release clause triggered, but he stayed at Athletic Bilbao; interest now cooled. |
| Marcus Rashford | Secondary | Flick supports the move, but wages and form raise concerns; Barca considering as fallback. |
| Other targets | Ongoing | Luis DÃaz and Rafael Leão now leading the race. |
🔚 Final Verdict
Barça started by chasing Nico Williams as their dream left-wing signing. But with his departure off the table and financial hurdles remaining, Flick shifted focus to Rashford as a Plan B—though his high salary and unstable form may make him a tough option. Meanwhile, Luis DÃaz and Rafa Leão have taken pole position as Barcelona’s primary target.
