🔵 Nico Williams Pushes for Barcelona Move
- Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams (22) has made it clear he wants to leave San Mamés and join Barcelona next season—despite interest from Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool (aftonbladet.se, bavarianfootballworks.com).
- He’s reportedly informed Athletic and his agents of his intention. His preference is Barcelona, even though Bayern had offered a significantly higher salary—approximately €12 M net per year, which Barca didn’t match .
- Personal terms are agreed with Barca—a contract reportedly until 2031, with a €7–8 M net annual salary (as.com).
- The sticking point remains Athletic’s €58 M–€62 M release clause, which they insist be paid in full upfront. Barcelona plan to activate it next week, likely using staged payments in line with La Liga salary cap rules (barcablaugranes.com).
- Club President Joan Laporta has publicly stated Barca can afford the clause and welcomes La Liga scrutiny (as.com).
- Athletic’s leadership, including President Jon Uriarte, are pushing back strongly—meeting with La Liga to ensure Barcelona complies with financial regulations and voicing distrust over public statements from Deco and Laporta (as.com).
- Off the pitch, unrest is brewing: reports of vandalised fan art and a cold reception at Athletic’s stadium suggest strong emotions among supporters (aftonbladet.se).
- Inside Barcelona, optimism is rising. Lamine Yamal publicly backed the move, posting a photo with Williams on social media. Meanwhile, former coach Marcelino García Torral urged Barca to act quickly and not let the saga drag on (footballtransfers.com).
📊 Why It Matters
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Player Profile | Fast, skillful winger; vital for Spain’s Euro 2024 win; adds balance alongside Yamal, Raphinha, and Lewandowski (football-espana.net) |
| Barça’s Constraints | Must clear salary space (Ter Stegen, Christensen, Fati potential exits); must satisfy La Liga’s 1:1 rule |
| Athletic’s Stand | Demand full clause, wary of Barca’s financial transparency; leveraging La Liga support |
🧭 What’s Next?
- Barcelona are expected to trigger the release clause next week, and Athletic has raised the matter in talks with La Liga (barcablaugranes.com).
- Completion hinges on Barca creating enough salary-cap room—likely by offloading players—alongside Athletic’s cooperation.
- Should the transfer succeed, Barcelona would secure a long-term attacking addition aligned with their style and strategic rebuilding under Hansi Flick.
