Barça is clear that if there is a realistic opportunity to sign a top-level winger this summer, it is Nico Williams. In the Barça sports management, they consider that the Athletic Club player meets all the football and strategic requirements. There is a key point that plays in Barça's favor: his contract includes a release clause of 60 million euros, which avoids any type of negotiation.
This represents an advantage for a Barça that wants to avoid long negotiation processes. With the clause in hand, the Catalan team would only have to reach an agreement with the footballer. In this case, control over the operation would depend exclusively on the club's ability to gather the funds and balance the salary cap with La Liga.
Much Competition for Nico and Barça Still Faces Salary Issues
However, despite the path seeming more accessible than with other players, the major obstacle remains Fair Play. As of today, Barça couldn't register Nico Williams in the squad, which represents a significant barrier to any movement. This situation forces the club to continue working on departures and economic adjustments to gain room for maneuver.
Additionally, while Barça tries to balance their numbers, the competition for Nico only continues to grow. More and more major teams in Europe are probing the situation of the Athletic winger, aware of his talent, youth, and potential. What initially seemed like a relatively controlled race is now starting to become an upward bid where Barça starts at a disadvantage.
The Two European Giants Tracking Him
Among Barça's main competitors are Liverpool and PSG. The English club has already shown interest in strengthening their attack after securing Mohamed Salah's continuity and the possible departure of Luis Díaz. At Anfield, they are looking for a new reliable partner for the Egyptian, and Nico's name fits perfectly.
On the other hand, PSG is also closely following Nico's development. With Luis Enrique at the helm of the Parisian project, the French club is betting on young players, with talent and experience in high-level competitions. Nico meets those requirements and could also benefit from the offensive style proposed by the Asturian coach.
An Unexpected Call Alerts Barça
But if there is a move that really worries Barça, it is that of the eternal rival. According to the 'Madrid-Barcelona' portal, Real Madrid would be closely following Nico Williams's situation. The reason would be the possibility of Vinicius packing his bags this summer heading to Saudi Arabia, tempted by a multimillion-dollar offer.
If that departure materializes, the white club would see in Nico a reliable replacement, young, with experience in La Liga, and with a clause perfectly assumable by Madrid's economy. The mere fact that Real Madrid enters the bid would be a setback for Barça, which has already suffered on other occasions how their targets end up in Chamartín. If the club wants to secure Nico, they must move quickly and solve, once and for all, the accounts.