Nico Williams says 'no' to Barça and renews with Athletic
The Navarrese signing has been thwarted for the second year in a row.
BarcelonaAthletic Club has announced the renewal of Nico Williams' contract until 2035. In a surprising video published this Friday morning, the Navarrese striker confirmed that he will play at San Mamés alongside his brother Iñaki in the coming years. The decision frustrates the signing by Barça, which had prepared the payment of the €58 million release clause for the next few days and had verbally agreed with the player on an ascending contract until 2031. Williams was keen to play alongside his teammate Lamine Yamal, but the guarantees of registration from his agent have caused the rope to break again. Although Barça is closer the 1:1 rule of fair play financial, Uncertainty over player registration continues to affect the plans of the sports management.
What weighs the most is the heartThis is the main reason for the video that Athletic Club posted on its social media this Friday, July 4, at 10:32 a.m. to announce one of the biggest news stories of this transfer market. An individual dressed in black and hooded is seen painting the mural of the Williams brothers in Barakaldo, which has been vandalized several times in recent days. The sequence continues with the same person entering the Biscayan team's locker room and uncovering his head to reveal who it is: Nico Williams. "When decisions have to be made, what weighs most is the heart. I'm where I want to be, with my people. It's my home. Go Athletic!" the Spanish international striker tells the camera. The news has frozen Barcelona fans, who, given what was leaking from the most prestigious offices at Camp Nou, were eagerly awaiting the second signing of the summer after the experienced Joan Garcia.
In a statement published shortly after the video, Athletic Bilbao explained that Williams' contract extension runs until 2035 and that the player's buyout clause has increased by 50%. This means he will be close to €90 million, another €20 million above what the player is worth according to the Transfermarkt website, which specializes in football sales. The 22-year-old striker's price will rise, but he will still be within reach of the big European clubs. In fact, aside from Barça, Bayern Munich had also made an offer for Williams. The Bavarian club's interest has served Tainta to pressure Barça and, at the same time, prompted Athletic Bilbao to make its move to make its player the highest-paid player in the squad coached by former Barça player Ernesto Valverde. After this spectacular turn of events, San Mamés will continue to enjoy Williams' Champions League title next season.
Barça has money and alternatives
Nico Williams's failures won't move Barça away from their intention to strengthen their attack with an adaptable player, especially on the left wing. With Robert Lewandowski reaching his peak and Raphinha Dias useful in the false center forward position, the sporting directors and Hansi Flick agree that this need needs to be filled. With Williams ruled out, two top-level options remain. The one that both Deco and Flick always liked the most is Liverpool winger Luis Díaz, a player with immediate performance (28 years old) and highly valued characteristics such as goalscoring ability, defensive commitment, and one-on-one ability. The problem is the price—the transfer would cost no less than 60 million—and now also the uncertainty surrounding Liverpool's planning following the sudden death of Diogo Jota.
The other big name that has been circling the boards at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper for months is Marcus Rashford. Although he has a contract with Manchester United until 2028, he is determined to pursue a future away from Old Trafford, as evidenced by the fact that he agreed to a loan move to Aston Villa in the second half of last season. He will be 28 in October, fits Barça's needs, United would be willing to sign him on another loan, and he is fortunate to have placed himself in the hands of veteran Pini Zahavi, agent of Flick and Lewandowski and a former business partner of Laporta. Rashord is also said to be more patient than Williams regarding his signing.