What has changed (and what hasn't) to make the Nico Williams operation a reality

BarcelonaNico Williams is eager to play with Lamine Yamal and the path is clear: waiting to resolve the fair play financial, which is the main obstacle that Joan Laporta has had since he won the 2021 elections, Barça has already verbally agreed with him on the terms of his future contract. It would last six seasons to spread out payments as much as possible and limit the salary cap in the short term. It's the same strategy that has been followed with Joan Garcia, who will earn a little more with each passing season. In the case of Williams, it is estimated that he will earn between 8 and 9 million euros net annually, which will put him at the top of the Barça salary scale, but substantially below Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski.

That Barça and the Navarrese player's entourage have spoken about a future together is not the first time it has happened. And neither is the second. As already explained the ARA a few months ago, the Barcelona club had a chance to sign Williams on a free transfer. Former director of football Mateu Alemany had planned for the summer of 2024, the end of his contract at San Mamés. However, Deco, the Balearic native's replacement in the top office at the Joan Gamper Sports Complex, didn't consider this option, and the player renewed with Athletic Club with a €58 million buyout clause. After Williams shone at the European Championships, Joan Laporta agreed to pay that amount, but the deal fell through due to Barça's salary cap difficulties. Eleven months after that milestone, it seems things are serious. Sources involved in the negotiations confirmed this at this newspaper's request.

What has changed to make it serious now?

Williams already wanted to play for Barça last summer, but between the lack of guarantees with the fair play And under pressure from his brother Iñaki, he agreed to stay at Athletic for another year, with whom he finished fourth in La Liga and came close to reaching the Europa League final. After this bittersweet season, the Navarrese player has matured more and needs a change of scenery to progress in his professional career, something that his agent, Félix Tainta, conveyed to Deco a few days ago.

Another important change has to do with Barça, who, while they have been vocal throughout the season about not planning to sign Williams after last summer's disappointment, have now suddenly shown interest in the player and have reached an agreement pending the meeting of millions of his release clause and the resolution of the stumbling block. Two factors are pushing Laporta to get well and make that effort. On the one hand, the implicit pressure from a winning dressing room that, led by Lamine Yamal, will welcome the winger with open arms. And, on the other hand, the proximity of an electoral process that should allow the popular Barça president to extend his mandate by six years. The weight of the ball in decision-making is unbeatable.

Furthermore, financially, and despite the fact that Barça is unlikely to close the year in the black, the prospect of the long-awaited return to Camp Nou helps to convey greater calm regarding the achievement of the 1:1 rule, which allows for the normality of the market that has existed for almost five years. The club has no free cash, but it does see itself capable of paying 90 million euros between the release clauses of Joan Garcia and Williams thanks to various financial mechanisms. Then, if it manages to get the auditor to validate the 100 million euros for the seats, VIP And if he can get rid of such high-profile players as Ansu Fati, Ter Stegen, and Araujo, he'll be able to make room for the two new faces to play in La Liga. There's a month and a half to do the homework. It's more time than there was last year and more time than what was spent finding the gap to register Dani Olmo in a worse situation than the current one.

What's still the same?

In reality, that Barça has problems with the fair play Financial pressure isn't new. It was there last summer and it still is now, although it has higher revenue projections largely due to the return to Camp Nou. It's no surprise, then, that in order to register Williams as of July 1st, which is when the transfer window opens and the fiscal year changes, he has to force the departure of players who have contracts with the club and little desire to give it up. Ter Stegen has already been implicitly told he must leave, but the German's plan is to show up on July 13th for preseason and fight for a starting spot. Therefore, it's not out of the question that other pieces will have to be shaken up. Perhaps as unexpected like that of İlkay Gündoğan 11 months ago.

On the other hand, there's another aspect that hasn't changed compared to last season. Although Barça decided on Williams, Barça's sporting director, Deco, initially considered exploring other options and preferred Colombian Luis Díaz, just as he prioritized Olmo last summer. The reason? The candidates' goal-scoring ability. Deco has expressed doubts about the Navarrese's instinct, and he's right. If he ended the 23-24 season with eight goals in 37 official matches, this 24-25 campaign hasn't improved much: 11 goals in 45 appearances. If he ends up joining Barcelona, ​​Hansi Flick already has a clear target for him.