Nico Williams's Future Is Once Again One of the Hottest Topics in the Transfer Market. After becoming one of the great emerging stars of Spanish soccer, the Athletic winger is on the radar of several of Europe's top teams. FC Barcelona, which has been trying to sign him for months, now sees an old acquaintance fully entering the bidding and threatening to snatch one of its main targets.
Barça and Its Failed Attempt for Nico Williams
For some time, Deco and Joan Laporta have had Nico Williams on their priority list. The winger fit perfectly into the Barça project, where he would have formed a dream trio alongside Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. However, the signing couldn't be completed last summer, as Athletic managed to convince its star to renew his contract and stay at San Mamés.
Despite Barça's efforts, economic limitations made it impossible to execute his release clause at that time. Additionally, the arrival of Dani Olmo ultimately cooled his signing, leaving the winger in Bilbao with the promise of continuing to grow before making the leap to a European giant.
They Go After Nico Williams
However, the landscape has changed in recent days. Bayern Munich has burst in with force and has decided to go all out for Nico Williams. The Bavarian club is willing to pay his €58M clause, which would give Athletic few options to stop his departure.
The German team considers Nico Williams the perfect complement for its attack, which in recent years has relied too much on Leroy Sané and Kingsley Coman. Both players have been inconsistent and have suffered several injuries, so Bayern is looking for a fast, vertical winger with the ability to break through. Characteristics that perfectly match the profile of the Spanish international.
With Bayern's fierce competition, Barça finds itself in a complicated situation. At Can Barça, they know that the priority this summer is to strengthen the forward line with a replacement for Lewandowski. Therefore, it would be difficult to match the German club's offer for Nico Williams.
Moreover, the presence of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha in the squad means it is not an urgent position to reinforce. In fact, sources close to the Barça board assure that Barça will not be able to enter a bidding war with Bayern. If the German team decides to pay the clause, Barça will have little to do to prevent Nico Williams from packing his bags for Munich.
Deco Can't Believe It: Nico Williams Slips Away
From Camp Nou, there is a feeling of frustration, as Nico Williams has always been a priority target. Barça had plans to add him to its squad in 2025 or 2026, but Bayern Munich's quick maneuver could force the club to change.
If Nico Williams finally signs for Bayern, it will be a blow for Barcelona, which saw him as a potential key reinforcement in the medium term. Now, everything depends on Laporta and Deco: if they don't react in time, Nico Williams will be wearing Bavarian colors next season.