ANOTHER Nico Williams twist as Romano confirms Barcelona meeting

Tom Weber

• Updated: 13 Jun 2025 18:15 BST
• 4 min read

Breaking

Barcelona had a meeting with Nico Williams earlier on Friday, according to Catalan media and Fabrizio Romano.

The Athletic Club winger's future at his boyhood club is becoming increasingly uncertain. The Bilbao outfit have offered him a lucrative new deal that would see his already hefty wage rise even further and bump up his €60 million release clause.

However, Williams is clearly exploring all possible options. Earlier this week, German media dropped a bombshell by announcing that the 22-year-old is a top target for Bayern Munich and has already held talks with the Bundesliga champions.

Current ETV

Nico Williams

M (L)

Athletic

Nico Williams

M (L)

Athletic

€70.6M

ETV Range

€63.5M - €77.7M

View full profile

It was claimed that Williams would be open to the move and that he may even be willing to lower his wage demands to make a deal possible. Amid all of this, long-time admirers Arsenal and Chelsea have been watching from afar, still worried that the financial package to sign him is too great.

Barcelona, who were desperate to sign the Spain international last year, were completely out of the picture after president Joan Laporta announced that Williams was no longer a topic in Catalunya.

Barcelona U-turn?

However, it seems that Laporta wasn't quite telling the truth. According to Sport and confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona sporting director Deco met with Williams' agent Felix Tainta earlier on Friday.

The two held talks at a hotel in Barcelona to discuss a potential transfer, with Tainta said to have been keen to gauge the Blaugrana's interest in signing his client.

The Barcelona dressing room has seemingly got wind of this meeting, too, with Lamine Yamal promptly posting a picture on social media of himself and Williams, with the two known to be very close friends.

Barcelona are prioritising a move for a left-winger this summer and are considering several options. Liverpool winger Luis Diaz is their top target, but the Reds have made it clear that he's not for sale - or at least not for the money Barcelona could offer.

There have also been talks with Man Utd outcast Marcus Rashford and veteran winger Ivan Perisic, the lowest-cost option available. Williams would require a huge outlay, and Barcelona will only formally reactivate their pursuit if they can get favourable conditions.

Deco, it is claimed, assured Williams' agent that Barcelona would be able to register the superstar winger if they were to sign him.

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