FC BARCELONA SIGNINGS 2025
Bayern, Arsenal, Madrid: Barça's rivals for Nico Williams
Published:14/06/2025 - 22:24h
Updated:14/06/2025 - 22:24h
At least three European giants remain in the race for Nico Williams. Will Barça be able to 'tie down' the Basque winger? The 'culés', for now, have an advantage in the negotiations
FC Barcelona has once again considered Nico Williams as one of their priority options for the upcoming summer market. Although the Basque winger seemed discarded for the 'culé' board after his snub in 2024, the latest meeting between his agent, Félix Tainta, and Deco reopened negotiations with the Athletic 'crack'.
And, beyond what happened after Euro 2024 and his decision to stay one more season in the Bilbao team, Nico prioritizes waiting for an offer from Barça.
The player from Pamplona is convinced that Hansi Flick's team will allow him to make the definitive leap in quality to establish himself as one of the most lethal forwards in the world.
However, at least three major European teams insist on signing the 22-year-old winger. Athletic themselves have also extended a very interesting offer to renew, along with the possibility of playing in the Champions League in 25/26.
Even so, the Spanish international is inclined to take the leap to a big club, with options to win everything in the short term. Barça, after winning the national treble in 24/25 and reaching the 'semi-finals' of the Champions League, would be his ideal destination.
Bayern and Arsenal insist on keeping Nico Williams away from Barcelona
Outside of Spain, the best-positioned teams to sign the Bilbao '10' are Arsenal and Bayern Munich. Mikel Arteta's team hopes to close the signing of Martín Zubimendi soon and also wants to secure their attack with a '9' and a winger. There, in addition to 'Zubi', Nico would coincide with two other of his teammates in La Roja, David Raya and Mikel Merino.
Bayern, for their part, hopes to sign another winger with Williams' characteristics after Florian Wirtz's rejection. The Bavarians will lose Leroy Sané and have opened the exit door to Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry.
However, beyond the financial appeal of the Munich offer, Vincent Kompany's project does not quite convince the Basque forward due to the irregularity that the team has shown in Europe in recent seasons.
Another English team that is closely following Nico's situation is Chelsea. The 'blue' team will return to the Champions League this year and, as usual, is willing to make a high investment in reinforcements, especially offensive ones.
Liam Delap (22-year-old forward), Dário Essugo (20-year-old pivot) and Mamadou Sarr (19-year-old center-back) were their first incorporations thinking about the Club World Cup, but their market is far from closed.
Real Madrid has other priorities, but Nico remains on their radar
Much further behind, for the moment, is Real Madrid. A couple of weeks ago, Nico's name appeared in the main media outlets of the Spanish capital as a possible 'bomb' of the 'merengue' summer market. However, Xabi Alonso's team has other priorities to attend to and the Basque's name has been set aside.
After spending around 10 million on Trent Alexander-Arnold to allow him to play in the Club World Cup (the full-back was released on June 30), the 'blancos' invested 60 'kilos' in Dean Huijsen and another €60M more in Franco Mastantuono. The team still prioritizes going for a left-back and a midfielder, waiting to define which will be their forwards in 25/26.
Names like Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Díaz seem destined to leave, while Vinicius Jr. also has very juicy offers from Arabia. In that case, only if 'Vini' leaves, Madrid would consider returning to the 'race' for the younger of the Williams brothers.
A bid that, unlike other 'cracks', promises to be resolved soon. Nico, as he did last summer, hopes to resolve his future as soon as possible to be able to join his team's pre-season for 25/26. Will Barça be able to close the operation in July? Will the Spanish international's destination be far from LaLiga?
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