Barcelona growing more optimistic about signing €58 million-rated La Liga speedster
Barcelona announced their biggest signing of the summer so far earlier today as they landed former La Masia trainee Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig in a deal worth around €60 million, including add-ons.
With the 26-year-old now arriving, the focus shifts fully back to the priority target of the summer – Athletic Club and Spain winger Nico Williams.
Optimism grows at Barcelona
Even though it has appeared that Nico Williams might continue at Athletic Club for one more season, Barcelona have not given up their pursuit of the 22-year-old speedster.
In fact, SPORT now reports that within the Blaugrana club, there is a certain amount of secrecy on the subject, but internally there is a sense of optimism about his arrival and the chances of signing him are quite high.
Nothing has been signed, but negotiations have continued and neither the player nor his entourage have closed the doors on the transfer.
Barcelona are working quietly and awaiting a final response from Nico, but the truth is that there are daily conversations so they don’t see the operation as broken at all despite all the speculations of him deciding to continue at Athletic Club.
It is true that he is receiving a lot of pressure from the Basque club and that he has started training, but at Barça, it is not seen as a renunciation of the signing but quite the opposite.
The fact that talks are still ongoing after the video that the player made on his first day of training with Athletic says a lot about his desire to join the Catalans.
Everything in place for Nico’s signing
Barça are not considering any other scenario than the signing of Nico Williams and are ready to make a move.
The moment the player gives the OK, the club has the money to pay his €58 million termination clause and close the deal within 24 hours.
With a return to the 1:1 rule on the horizon, the UEFA Euro 2024 winner and his entourage know that there will be no registration issues either at this point.
There is no date set, but it is clear to all parties involved that the soap opera should be over before the start of La Liga next week, which means that the decisive days are approaching.
Barcelona do not attach much importance to Nico not being called up to the Athletic Club squad for their pre-season friendly tomorrow. But there is growing optimism within the Catalan institution that he will join.