Athletic Club pulled a fast one on Barcelona for the second year running as the Basque club announced that they had tied down Nico Williams to a 10-year contract. The Spain international had been linked with a move to the Catalan side this summer with personal term reportedly having been agreed. However, the club had been waiting to achieve 1:1 with La Liga's financial rules before making the move.
Barcelona have been rejected for the second year running by Athletic Club's Nico Williams as the Spain international has signed a new deal with the Basque club. The 22-year-old seemed certain to move to the Catalan side this summer after weeks of rather talks between Barcelona and the player's camp. The Spanish winger has now signed a 10-year deal with Los Leones.
Barcelona have been aggressively pushing to bring Athletic Club winger Nico Williams to Camp Nou, but the operation has hit multiple snags, mainly surrounding financial regulations and registration guarantees that the player has demanded. Although there remains hope of reaching an agreement, Marca suggests that the challenges involved are greater than initially anticipated.
Barcelona are keen on signing a left-winger this season as Hansi Flick has demanded another starter on the left-side with plans to shift Raphinha to the No. 10 spot. They are fully invested in striking a deal for Nico Williams, however, their deal has now hit a snag and Liverpool winger Luis Diaz is re-emerging as an option for the Blaugrana.
Nico Williams’ long-anticipated transfer to Barcelona is now in serious doubt, with frustrations mounting. Despite the player's desire to join the five-time Champions League winners, ongoing issues around registration guarantees and financial constraints for the Catalan side are threatening to derail the deal for the Athletic Club winger altogether.
Nico Williams has reportedly asked for a registration guarantee from Barcelona before completing his move from Athletic Club. The Blaugrana are closing in on a deal for the winger, with club president Joan Laporta already confirming that Barcelona will pay the player's €58 million (£49m/$67m) release clause. The Spaniard has also made up his mind to join the Catalan side.
In a fresh act of protest, the mural featuring Nico Williams in Bilbao has once again been desecrated, just hours after it had been lovingly restored. The backlash from certain Athletic Club fans has escalated as the Spain international edges closer to a transfer to rivals Barcelona, a move that has sparked visible anger among the Basque community.
Despite deciding to sign Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao, Barcelona won’t be paying his release clause before July as part of a strategic financial move.
Athletic Bilbao
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