The cast seemed perfect. Nico Williams, the best friend of Lamine Yamal ultra complementary with him in selection, was the summer priority in Barça. In search of an explosive profile on the left wing, the Catalan leaders had checked his name at the top of the list, as last summer. The operation was launched. And on paper, it seemed playable: 60 million clause, a player seduced by the project, and a club ready to make financial efforts to welcome it. But now, at Barça, nothing is simple.
For several days, negotiations have been intensified. The club wanted to guarantee the registration of the player in the workforce as quickly as possible. This is where everything was stopped. The Williams clan demanded a security clause: if Barça could not register it, Nico would be automatically released. An unacceptable condition for Catalan management, which did not want to risk losing 60 million euros without a counterpart guarantee, as the daily explains Mark.
Barça refuses the clause
The club camps on its positions. “There is no question of putting such a clause,” hammer the leaders to the player's agent. Especially since other points of friction remain: the payment structure, the commissions … and an always unstable payroll. To convince, Barça deploys all its argument. Back to rule 1: 1 imminent thanks to the commercial agreement around the VIP lodges of the future Spotify Camp Nou, lightened wages with the departures of Lenglet and Ansu Fati, future sales planned (Torre, Peña) … everything is put on the table to bring Nico into the nails. His contract? About 22 million euros per year, clause included.
The tone has mounted
But the entourage of the player remains inflexible. The risk is too large: “We cannot afford that Nico stays without playing“Explains his agent. The tension rises and the rupture becomes inevitable.
In parallel, Bilbao activates. Feeling the dead end with Barça, the Basque club accelerates the discussions to extend its gem. Friday, the announcement falls: Nico Williams extends with Athletic and enhances his clause. In Barcelona, we learn it by a phone call from the agent. Brutal. But not really a surprise. The Blaugrana dream collapses, giving way to a missed opportunity. Nico Williams could have been the great attraction of Barça version 2025-2026. He will remain the one who preferred stability to uncertainty.
To summarize
FC Barcelona failed to recruit Nico Williams, summer priority, due to disagreements on a security clause and financial problems. Despite efforts to convince, the player's entourage preferred stability to Athletic Bilbao, ending the negotiations.
Editor
