Nico Williams's signing by FC Barcelona seemed to be on track just a few days ago, but in the last few hours contradictory reports have emerged, creating some uncertainty. The Athletic Club winger had already given the green light to join the blaugrana squad this summer, and his camp had confirmed his desire to wear the blaugrana jersey.
However, although both the player and the Catalan club are willing, the process still hasn't been officially closed. The deal is at a delicate stage, where any move could either speed up or halt the negotiation. Barça's economic context also adds important nuances when it comes to registering him.
Two opposing versions
According to Mundo Deportivo, negotiations have stalled due to the demands of the player's agent, Félix Tainta. The representative is said to have requested concrete guarantees that Nico will be registered without setbacks, something that hasn't been well received by the club's sporting leadership. This new approach has led the club to view the progress of the signing with greater caution.
Meanwhile, the agent has reportedly been negotiating a super contract in parallel with a European giant. Tainta and Bayern hope that Barça won't meet the financial requirements and, in the end, won't be able to secure Nico's services.
At the same time, Jijantes has reported just the opposite. According to this outlet, the deal is in its final stretch and the contracts are already ready. In that version, there would be no doubts about the viability of the registration, and only formal details would remain before executing the payment of the clause.
Barça are optimistic
Optimism prevails within the Catalan club. They are convinced that they'll be able to register the player thanks to new sources of income such as the sale of VIP boxes, in addition to the departure of some footballers with high salaries. In this regard, Barça believes it has enough margin to complete the deal.
It should be remembered that last year Nico's signing fell through due to doubts from the player's camp regarding his registration. This time, Barça wants to avoid that scenario and is working to close everything before July 9, the date when Athletic resumes training.
Meanwhile, Athletic Club keeps its usual stance: it won't negotiate. If Barça wants Nico Williams, it will have to pay the €58 million clause. That amount doesn't represent an insurmountable obstacle for the blaugrana, but it does condition the pace of the deal, which must be adjusted to the new financial year.
Meanwhile, the player's environment is not simple. Part of Athletic Club's fanbase hasn't welcomed his decision and his mural has been vandalized on more than one occasion. In this context, both Nico and Barça want the signing to be made official as soon as possible to close the chapter.