Barcelona are looking to make Nico Williams their star signing of the summer after Kylian Mbappe’s arrival at Real Madrid, and there is plenty of confidence that they will manage to do so, in spite of their economic situation.
The Blaugrana are restricted in what they can spend currently, and Relevo say that while there is much more optimism at Can Barca than in previous summers, if they do not close a new sponsorship agreement with Nike and resolve the non-payment of their sale of Barca Vision, they will not be able to bring anyone in.
If they can get back within their salary limit, they must offer Athletic Club his €58m release clause. Despite Chelsea and Arsenal being willing to offer much more to the player, Barcelona have closed personal terms with Williams this week, and are convinced that they will bring in their man.
Despite not being officially presented by the club, Thiago is playing a leading role as a link between staff and squad. @scapde_45
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) July 17, 2024
The 21-year-old is seen as a way of exciting the fanbase and responding to Real Madrid’s signing of Mbappe, and is also part of their plan to build a project around Lamine Yamal, keeping him happy in the process. Barcelona will try to get the deal done before Williams returns to preseason with Athletic in early August.
No doubt many Barcelona fans themselves will urge caution in the face of such optimism, given the optimism of previous transfer markets has not always gone as planned. Williams would certainly be a coup, although it has been reported in recent days that some at the club believe Dani Olmo would be a better addition.
