In what felt like a transfer saga heading towards a fairy tale ending, Barcelona’s pursuit of Nico Williams reached a dead end that few inside the club saw coming.
After months of groundwork, verbal agreements and a public show of intent from both president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco, the 22-year-old winger chose to stay put in Bilbao.
Athletic Club announced on July 4 that Williams had renewed his contract until 2035, with a release clause now worth €100m [$117m].
The winger, long admired by the Catalan giants, had been seen as a vital piece in Hansi Flick’s rebuilding project.
This setback forces Barcelona to adjust their summer plans, with the focus now shifting to other left-wing targets, with Liverpool’s Luis Diaz and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford under consideration.
Diaz is viewed as the marquee option, though his valuation by Liverpool complicates the situation. but Rashford is a more attainable option.
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Barcelona step up interest in Serie A star
With Williams now out of the picture, and other targets stalling over a switch, Barcelona have reopened talks for AC Milan forward Rafael Leao, according to SPORT.
The 26-year-old Portugal international is being pushed toward Catalonia by his representatives, notably Jorge Mendes, who maintains strong ties with both Barca and Milan, despite not being Leao’s official agent.
The winger, who has scored 70 goals and delivered 62 assists in 260 games for Milan, is reportedly keen to leave after clashes with coaches and Milan’s failure to qualify for European competition in 2025/26.
While his release clause stands at €150m [$176m], Milan are open to selling him for around €70m [$82m] plus add-ons.
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