Barcelona haven't given up on Nico Williams as plan emerges to sign Spain's Euro 2024 breakout star from Athletic Club

The talented winger, who has been one of Athletic Club's standout players in recent years and also emerged as a bright spark for La Roja in Euro 2024, attracted significant interest from multiple European clubs - with Barcelona particularly keen to bring him to Camp Nou. However, despite their best efforts, the deal did not materialise as Williams decided to remain at Athletic Club for the 2024-25 season, which put an end to the Blaugrana's immediate pursuit.

According to reports from Sport, Barcelona are already making plans to return for Williams in the summer of 2025. The club has maintained good relations with both the player and his representatives, and they believe that a deal is still possible in the near future. Williams has a release clause set at €62 million and the Catalan club hope that they will be able to pay the fee upfront next summer, braving their persistent financial struggles. The report further mentions that Barcelona had always wanted to sign the player in 2025 but his meteoric rise in Germany, inspiring Spain to the European championship, led them to make a serious push for the player in 2024.

Barcelona's arch-rivals, Real Madrid, are also reported to be monitoring the Athletic Club winger. According to Sport, Real Madrid sees Williams as a possible successor to Vinícius Junior, should the Brazilian winger leave the Santiago Bernabeu for Saudi Arabia. Real Madrid are reportedly open to the idea of parting ways with Vinícius, especially after securing the services of Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman's arrival has strengthened Real Madrid’s forward line, and the club believes they could manage without Vinícius if a suitable offer were to come in for the 24-year-old.

With both Barcelona and Real Madrid expressing interest in Williams, the battle for his signature could intensify next summer. While Barcelona have maintained a close relationship with the player and have been tracking him for years, if Real Madrid come calling, it would be difficult for the forward to turn them down. Nonetheless, the stage looks set for a potential battle between Spain’s biggest footballing rivals for one of the game’s most promising young talents.