The highly anticipated transfer of Athletic Club’s star winger Nico Williams to Barcelona has taken an unexpected twist.
Barcelona’s pursuit of winger Nico Williams is facing a big obstacle, with the 22-year-old Spaniard expecting guarantees regarding his registration with La Liga.
Barcelona has agreed on personal terms for a six-year contract, but their financial situation and issues with Financial Fair Play (FFP) have prevented them from registering the transfer.
That means Bayern Munich could still get involved and reassert their interest in the winger.
Williams is eager to join Barcelona and play with his close friend Lamine Yamal; however, he is simply stressed about repeating last summer’s failed transfer attempt due to registration issues.
Barcelona is dealing with a difficult FFP situation that requires them to reduce their wage bill or increase income to pull off Williams’ registration and their new goalkeeper, Joan Garcia, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The club is optimistic that the current FFP policy will allow them to move forward by potentially selling players like Ansu Fati or Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Time is also a factor.
Athletic Club has grown frustrated with Barcelona and has escalated the situation by asking La Liga to investigate their finances with the intention for Barcelona to be locked from registering Williams.
Bayern Munich is also waiting, ready to react after being rejected by Williams in recent years.
The flexibility of the German club’s finances is not as beneficial to Athletic as it is to demanding Barcelona prey the €62 million release clause in total, which surely complicates any potential move.
Williams’ camp is focused on Barcelona due to the possibility of playing under Hansi Flick at the refurbished Spotify Camp Nou.
But, without concrete assurances on registration, the winger’s dream move is dependent on the surety of the move, adding uncertainty not only to Athletic and Barcelona but also their respective supporters and other competitors, as the last days of the transfer window remain open.
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