Hansi Flick views Williams as a perfect fit for his system, especially as a left-wing counterpart to Lamine Yamal.
Barcelona are closing in on the signing of Spanish winger Nico Williams from Athletic Club in what promises to be one of the most exciting transfers of the summer window. The 22-year-old is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most electrifying young talents. According to the latest reports, the speedy attacker has reportedly agreed to join the Catalan giants despite strong interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich.
Williams, who recently impressed with Spain during Nations League finals, has long been on Barcelona’s radar. According to multiple reports from Spain, Williams has given a verbal green light to Barca and identified the club as his top destination. He has even turned down more lucrative offers from other clubs in the process. Arsenal were willing to offer Williams a £7.6 million-a-year package, but the Athletic Club star prioritized Barcelona over Arsenal.
Barcelona’s pursuit of the winger has been closely tied to their efforts to balance the books and stay compliant with La Liga’s Financial Fair Play rules. The Blaugrana are currently working to resolve a €40 million financial dispute with Libero Football Finance AG, which is seen as key to unlocking transfer flexibility. Club president Joan Laporta has hinted at an “exciting signing” in the pipeline, which many insiders believe to be Williams.
Athletic Club, for their part, are holding firm on the €62 million release clause in Williams’ contract and have reportedly been reluctant to negotiate directly with Barcelona. The Catalan club is exploring structured payment options to match the release clause, potentially similar to the approach Arsenal took with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi.
Despite these hurdles, optimism is high in the Barcelona camp. Hansi Flick views Williams as a perfect fit for his system, especially as a left-wing counterpart to rising star Lamine Yamal. The player’s chemistry with Spain teammates like Pedri and Yamal also bodes well for a smooth integration into the squad. Barcelona will still need to trim their wage bill to accommodate Williams’ arrival, but the player’s strong preference to join the Camp Nou side has accelerated negotiations.
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