FC Barcelona Target Nico Williams Cancels Transfer With Shock Move

Spain winger Nico Williams has effectively ended his chances of moving to FC Barcelona this summer through a shock development announced by Athletic Club on Friday morning in Europe.

“Nico Williams renews with Athletic Club until 2035,” began a short statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“The red-and-white winger commits to the club of his heart for the next ten seasons, and his release clause increases by more than 50%,” it added.

After a failed pursuit for Nico amid him winning Euro 2024 alongside close friend Lamine Yamal, Barca was believed to be closing in on the left winger ahead of the upcoming season it will start as a defending treble champion of Spain.

Reports spread that Nico had already agreed to join Barca until 2031 while being paid €7-8 million a year.

The only thing left to iron out seemed to be raising the funds to trigger his €58 million release clause, which would apparently be done in the first few days of July.

Now that value has been risen by 50% however, to something past $100 million, it is simply unaffordable for the Catalans who are still recovering from an economic crisis that almost obliterated their very existence at the turn of the decade.

“When decisions have to be made, for me what weighs more is the heart. I am where I want to be, with my people. This is my home. Aupa Athletic!,” said Williams, in a video which announced his renewal.

“This new show of loyalty marks a milestone in the history of the red-and-whites and endorses a path of confidence in the sporting project already initiated by, among other teammates, Unai Simon, Oihan Sancet, Dani Vivian, Mikel Jauregizar, Beñat Prados or Ernesto Valverde himself… and, of course, his brother Inaki Williams, the captain of this team that is already historic and generational,” the Basques added.

Athletic Club explained that Nico “will continue to wear the number 10 inherited from Iker Muniain, with the Champions League as a new scenario” for that.

“His step forward in the face of dizzying offers is a resounding success for Athletic Club, a full-fledged Athletic WIN (Williams, Iñaki and Nico),” it concluded.

Nico’s U-turn is good news for FC Barcelona forward Raphinha

Most probably bracing himself for a positional rivalry with Nico, his U-turn is good news for FC Barcelona forward Raphinha. At the same time, however, ‘Rapha’ could have easily switched to a CAM berth with Nico on the left, which might have resulted in Dani Olmo becoming a false 9 that will gradually phase out a verteran in Robert Lewandowski believed to be approaching his final season in Blaugrana ahead of a move to Saudi Arabia.