Journalist Alex Pintanel has reported that within the Barcelona offices, tensions are running high.
It is no secret that Barça are eagerly waiting to sort out their financial troubles so they can bolster their team for the next season.
Xavi, in that regard, has already shared with Deco the names he believes are crucial for elevating the team’s performance to compete on par with Europe’s finest.
However, the manager himself admitted during a recent press conference that this goal is still a long way off. Nevertheless, the club remains hopeful about pulling off some significant deals.
As such, one player who has caught Xavi’s attention is Nico Williams, but Barcelona know that negotiating with Athletic Club is out of the question. If they want to secure the winger, they will have to cough up nearly €50 million as per his release clause.
Despite Nico’s recent contract extension until 2027, with hopes of playing European football with Athletic, Barça’s interest could potentially disrupt his plans.
Apart from the aforementioned issue, Barcelona are also working on a few more problems that can hinder this signing. Here, we take a look at those:
Financial margin
Xavi thinks Nico is a special player who could really help fix a big problem the team has been facing this season.
The journalist mentions that once Barcelona secure the much-needed pivot player, the next goal will be to bring in the Athletic forward. This is a top priority for Xavi. If they have enough financial margin, they will make the move.
As such, Barcelona have reportedly closed the signing of Guido Rodriguez, making him their first summer acquisition. If this is indeed true, the team from Catalonia has secured a pivot and upon further introspection of finances, the next target is Nico.
Xavi wants to play with two wingers
It is understood that the Athletic star winger brings a unique edge with his speed and agility, something Xavi feels his side has been missing.
Having him on board means they can go back to playing with two wingers, with Lamine Yamal on the right and Nico on the left.
It is no secret that Xavi desperately wants to reinforce the right wing and for that, several players have been examined. So far, Nico happens to be Xavi’s obsession and there is absolutely no one the manager would sign if he is made available in the market.
Athletic Club do not want to negotiate
Now that we know all moves in the market depend on how the economy is doing, Barça won’t be able to make more signings until they sort out their deal with Nike, figure out what is up with Barça Vision, and maybe sell some players to get some cash for the next transfer window.
But even if they figure all that out in time, there is another problem with Athletic Club. They are not keen on negotiating a price for their player.
They have made it clear that if anyone wants Nico, they have got to pay €50 million. No negotiations.
Nico signed a new contract with Athletic Club last year, so he is not likely to go against them just to force a transfer. So, if Barcelona want him, they are going to have to pony up the €50 million. The only wiggle room might be in how they pay it.
