Barça is still attentive to Nico Williams but is considering other options such as Luis Díaz or Rafael Leão to reinforce the left wing this summer

Calendar of FC Barcelona

Will there be a Nico Williams-Barça ‘soap opera’ next summer? For now, there don’t seem to be clear signs.

However, given Barcelona’s desire to incorporate a player capable of playing on the left wing in the next summer market and who offers a similar profile to Lamine Yamal or Raphinha, it is not surprising that the name of the Pamplona forward is back on the table, as it already happened in the past.

Nico is interesting to reinforce the left wing, but it is not the only option that Barça is considering
Initiall.

The incorporation of the youngest of the Williams brothers to the Ciudad Condal team gives the impression of being surrounded by a certain complexity.

Barcelona Not Interested

The President of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta, has disclosed that the club is no longer considering a move to sign Spain forward of Ghanaian descent Nico Williams.

According to him, although the La Liga champions were interested in signing the younger brother of Iñaki Williams last summer, they have moved on and are exploring other options in the market.

“We valued Nico as a potential signing last summer with Dani Olmo, but right now I think the club is valuing other players,” Joan Laporta said, as quoted by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Laporta added, “There will be changes in our squad this summer.

“Our rivals will also strengthen because they have seen that our team is the best right now.”

Nico Williams was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona last summer after an outstanding campaign for Athletic Club and the Spain national team.

The talented youngster decided to stay at Athletic Club and signed a contract extension.

Although Barcelona are no longer interested in signing Williams, he is a transfer target for English Premier League side Arsenal.

Nico Williams on Real Madrid’s radar

The option of signing Nico Williams for next season is gaining serious traction at Real Madrid.

According to Marca, the club is seriously considering triggering the €58 million release clause to acquire the winger from Athletic Club.

Until now, Williams had not been mentioned as a potential addition for the squad Xabi Alonso will manage at the Club World Cup.

However, Real Madrid views this as a major market opportunity—not only because of the player’s price tag, but also due to his footballing potential and strong media appeal.

The move would also align with the club’s ongoing strategy to increase the number of Spanish players in the squad.

Last week, Real Madrid announced the signing of Dean Huijsen and is also working on a deal for Álvaro Carreras, a Galician left-back currently at Benfica.

In addition, the club has secured an agreement with Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will leave Liverpool as a free agent.

Nico Williams, 22, was previously on Barcelona’s radar following a standout performance at the European Championship in Germany. Talks were even held about a potential move to Camp Nou.

However, the winger ultimately chose to remain under Ernesto Valverde’s leadership at San Mamés for another season.

Firstly, because of the position of the Azulgrana club.

This was hinted at by Joan Laporta in his most recent public appearance, where he acknowledged on ‘TV3’ that “other market options are being considered” to strengthen the left wing.

Therefore, at least for now, Nico Williams does not appear as an absolute priority for the Culé team, which would also be considering other alternatives for that position:

The arguments that make Barcelona not rule out Nico Williams yet

However, the name of Nico Williams cannot be completely ruled out in Barcelona’s plans. Firstly, because of his market value:

The Pamplona native, who in this 2024/25 season has 11 goals and seven assists in 44 matches, has not renewed his contract with Athletic Club.

So he maintains a release clause of €58M. A relatively affordable amount in a context where prices for players tend to be exorbitant.

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Likewise, his arrival would be a real ‘boom’, both in sporting and emotional terms.

Barça would incorporate a young, daring, fast winger with dribbling and imbalance, ideal to exploit the left side and with less tendency to close towards the middle, as it happens with Raphinha.

With whom he maintains a close friendship. That could facilitate his adaptation to the team.

Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams in the match between FC Barcelona and Athletic

Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams in the match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club
What if the Pamplona native chooses to stay at Athletic?

We will have to see what finally happens with the future of Nico Williams.

And the ’10’ of the Lions has solid arguments to continue one more season at Athletic Club.

The Basque team will play in the next edition of the Champions League, after several years of absence (they have not done so since the 2014/15 season), which is a very important sporting incentive.

An attraction that is feasible that weighs on the decision of the winger, who for now has not spoken about it, focused on recovering from pubalgia that has affected his performance in recent weeks.