Transfer Turmoil: Barcelona’s optimism fades in securing 20-goal forward

In a surprising twist, information has surfaced through Jordi Cardero that Barcelona have tempered their optimism regarding the signing of Nico Williams. It is said that while the club has not completely lost hope, Athletic Club remain firm in their stance. 

As Barcelona kick off their pre-season training in the United States, they are closely monitoring the progress of Nico’s potential transfer. For now, it seems likely that Nico will stay with Athletic Club, as he holds the key to his future.

Despite maintaining some hope, there is a noticeable decrease in Barcelona’s optimism about securing Nico’s signature. 

Difficult market to deal with

With the time and opportunity to approach the signing, it appears nearly impossible for Barcelona to secure his signing at this moment.

The club is asking him for a show of faith, similar to the trust they sought and received from players like Ilkay Gundogan, Inigo Martinez, and Jules Kounde.

It seems unlikely that Barcelona will be able to announce any new signings within the next week. A crucial task for the club, perhaps the most important, is finding a financial partner to cover Libero’s shortfall. 

Nico Williams is likely to continue at Athletic Club. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)

The club has been expressing a certain level of optimism about this for several weeks, and this optimism has grown somewhat. There is hope to announce some positive news before the end of their tour on August 6.

What about Nico and Athletic Club?

Meanwhile, in Bilbao, Athletic Club are reinforcing their position. They have consistently maintained that Nico is a key player who is expected to return to training on August 12, just a few days before the start of La Liga. 

Meanwhile, Nico, who has scored 20 goals for his club so far, has not yet made any public statements about his future as he has been enjoying a holiday and those close to him insist that there is no new information on his situation.

Barcelona’s delegation to the United States is relatively small. Notably absent is Deco, the sporting director, who stayed behind to continue shaping the squad for the upcoming season. 

Deco hasn’t gone all-in on pursuing Nico and is also considering Dani Olmo, having met with his representatives several times in recent weeks. 

Although Barcelona initially aimed to pursue both players, the reduced enthusiasm for Nico might lead the club to focus more on securing Olmo’s signature.