The 22 -year -old offensive end would have accepted the contractual conditions of the 'Blaugranas' and both teams would already be finalizing details to settle the operation.
Photo: EFE – Juan Carlos Hidalgo
Summary and Fast Informame
Listen to this article
Audio generated with Google
Barcelona would already have a principle according to Nico Williams. The end of Athletic Club would have given the personal conditions proposed by the Catalan club, which now works to unlock the last economic details and turn the operation into a market reality this European summer.
The 22 -year -old, one of the revelations of the Spanish team in the 2024 Eurocup, had several weights of weight: Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Psg asked about him, but his priority is always dressing out of 'Blaugrana'. Interest is not new, but now there are concrete advances.
Barcelona does not see how an insurmountable obstacle the termination clause of 60 million euros that Williams has with Athletic. In fact, he already works in formulas to execute it, even with the soccer player's wink, which rejected a renewal offer in Bilbao despite his high salary.
The real challenge is to meet the salary margins demanded by LaLiga. “One thing is to sign, another is to be able to register,” warned this week the president of the Spanish championship, Javier Tebaswhen consulted by the situation of other players, but also applies to the Williams case.
To register to the extreme, the club needs to generate margin in its salary mass, either with new exits, extraordinary income or advances in the remodeling of the Camp Nou that allow a greater commercial muscle. For now, important movements have been produced: the contract of Clément Lengletsold to the side Álex Valle to about six million and almost eight million will be received for the sale of godline to West Ham, thanks to a surplus value included by Barça in 2021.
A connection that excites: Nico and Lamine
Beyond the economic, there is an emotional factor that inclines the balance: The good relationship between Nico Williams and Lamine Yamalwith whom he shares costumes in the Spanish team. That society, which already bear fruit with the Red, seduces the Catalan club, who imagines an insured future attack front.
In Bilbao, Nico's possible output is assumed as a hard blow. From the Athletic environment they recognize that the player is getting closer to Barça, although the Basque club has always expressed his intention to retain him. “We have the sports, economic and social capacity to keep players as Nico,” said its president recently, Jon Uriarte.
Barcelona had already contemplated other options. His first bet was Luis Díazbut Liverpool's lack of will to negotiate closed that way. They were also interested in Florian Wirtz, who finally stressed in Anfield. Thus, Williams went on to occupy the first line in the Blaugranas plans, despite the fact that his natural position – expiring on the left – already has a direct competitor: Raphinha.
In total, Nico has played 167 parties With the first Athletic team, scoring 31 goals and distributing 30 assists. Now, everything indicates that his stage in San Mamés will come to an end, amid institutional tensions among clubs and with the footballer's desire to write a new chapter in Barcelona.
🚴🏻⚽🏀 The latest in sports?: Everything you should know about world sport is in the spectator
