In one of the more unexpected moments of the week, Russian Premier League side Zenit Saint Petersburg have explained why they were “happy to help” Barcelona in their pursuit of Nico Williams.
Barcelona Close in on Nico Williams — but Athletic Bilbao Demand Full Clause Payment
Barcelona are on the verge of signing Nico Williams after agreeing personal terms with the Spain international on a six-year contract. However, there are still significant hurdles to clear before the winger can officially make the switch to Catalonia, according to BBC reporter Guillem Balagué.
Athletic Club have stood firm on their position that Williams’ €62 million (£53m) release clause must be paid in full. Barcelona, while prepared to trigger the clause, want to spread the payment in instalments — a plan that hasn’t gone down well in Bilbao.
“Bilbao is at loggerheads with Barca, and despite the player’s desire for a friendly exit, everything points to the Bilbao side clinging to the clause and its full payment through La Liga,” wrote Spanish outlet SPORT.
Zenit’s unexpected donation
In a bizarre twist to the transfer saga, Russian side Zenit Saint Petersburg jumped into the fray, making a small donation toward the deal. Zenit posted on TikTok:
“For Nico Williams from Zenit.”
When a Barcelona fan account shared the gesture on X, Zenit’s admin playfully replied:
“You gave us Malcom, so happy to help!”
Malcom, the Brazilian winger, joined Zenit from Barcelona in 2019 for a reported £36.5 million after scoring just four goals in 24 appearances at Camp Nou. He went on to make over 100 appearances for Zenit, finishing as the Russian Premier League’s top scorer in the 2022/23 campaign before moving to Al Hilal for around €60 million last year.
If Nico Williams does complete his move to Barcelona, he’ll face serious competition for a starting spot. Raphinha made the right-wing position his own last season during Barça’s title-winning campaign and will be determined to keep his place.
Williams might also have to share the stage with Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, who has been heavily linked with a switch to the Camp Nou this summer. According to Mundo Deportivo, Rashford remains interested in joining the Catalan club and “believes his arrival is compatible with that of Nico Williams because he can occupy all three attacking positions and could even provide an alternative to Robert Lewandowski up front.”
👉 What do you make of Nico Williams potentially heading to Barcelona? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
