Barcelona received an unexpected blow just a few days ago. When everything seemed set with Nico Williams, the Basque winger renewed his contract with Athletic Club until 2035. This decision has hurt both the boardroom and the locker room, especially because of the way it happened.
The club felt betrayed. In fact, beyond its failed signing last summer, this time the conditions for his arrival were practically finalized.
However, the player's salary demands ruined everything: he was asking for a contract worth €15 million net per season (€15 million). A signing bonus of €10 million (€10 million) for his agent, and guarantees that Barça was not willing to grant.
Barça moves: looking for a top winger
After the rejection, Barça has accelerated its plan B. Hansi Flick considers it a priority to strengthen the wings and has demanded a young, unbalancing profile with competitive hunger. With the impossibility of signing Nico, and with Luis Díaz off the market after moving to Bayern, the technical department has focused its attention on another promising European footballer.
A more affordable player, with great room for improvement and willing to adapt his salary to the Barça environment. The complete opposite of the Nico case, who wanted to be the highest paid in the locker room without having debuted yet.
Bradley Barcola, the chosen one: price set
The deal for Bradley Barcola is already at an advanced stage. The PSG winger has been offered to Barça and, after weeks of discreet talks, Deco and Laporta have given the green light. The formula will be a loan with a mandatory purchase option at the end of the season.
Total deal price: €35 million (€35 million) (5M for the loan + 30M mandatory in June 2026).
- Initial salary: €3 million (€3 million) net per season, well below the €8 million (€8 million) Nico Williams was asking for.
- Contract duration: 5 seasons, until June 2030.
- Bonuses: variables based on performance, titles, and number of matches, with a cap of €3 million (€3 million) extra per season.
PSG, which needs to lighten its squad and comply with French fair play, has accepted this route. Barcola has informed the Parisian club that his desire is to join Barça, where he will be able to play with Lamine Yamal and be a starter on the left wing.
Flick has been clear from the very beginning: he wanted a direct winger, with dribbling skills and associative ability. Barcola has it all. In addition, he has Lamine Yamal's approval, who especially values his left-footed profile, his play in space, and his ability not to invade his area.
This good chemistry has weighed heavily in the final decision. At Barça, they want to avoid past mistakes with signings lacking internal chemistry, as happened with some recent forwards. Here, however, the tactical and personal fit is guaranteed.