Three-peat on the cards – Barcelona enter familiar territory with renewed push for Nico Williams

Barcelona are lastly getting nearer to signing Nico Williams from Athletic Membership, a transfer that has been within the making for fairly a while.

The turning level got here final weekend when Barça sporting director Deco met with the participant’s agent. That assembly helped push issues ahead, and now, the membership is extra assured than ever.

Barcelona had already tried to convey Nico final summer season. Again then, they had been able to pay his launch clause, and the board was certain that he would say sure. However issues didn’t go as deliberate.

Nico’s older brother, Inaki Williams, together with different relations, suggested him to remain in Bilbao. They had been eager for him to play within the Europa League, particularly for the reason that closing is ready to be held at San Mames.

On the similar time, Barcelona had been struggling to register new gamers due to their monetary limitations. These two components ended up killing the deal. Though the transfer didn’t occur final yr, Barça didn’t quit.

This isn’t the primary time they’ve needed to wait to signal a participant they actually wished. In reality, there have been related instances up to now the place a switch failed at first, solely to be accomplished the next season.

When persistence paid off with Thierry Henry

One of the vital well-known examples is Thierry Henry. Again in 2006, the French striker was prepared to go away Arsenal and be part of Barcelona. Every thing had been agreed, and Henry was set to play underneath Frank Rijkaard.

However simply earlier than he may make the transfer, Arsenal confronted Barça within the Champions League closing. Barcelona received the sport 2-1.

Days later, Henry referred to as the membership to say he had modified his thoughts. Influenced by Arsene Wenger and pushed by loyalty to Arsenal followers, he selected to remain and even signed a contract extension.

Nevertheless, issues didn’t go nicely for him. Arsenal had a poor season, ending fourth within the league, and Henry missed a big a part of it resulting from harm. That’s when he determined to make a U-turn.

His agent acquired in contact with Ferran Soriano, then Barcelona’s financial vice-president, to see if the membership was nonetheless . They had been, and by the tip of the 2006-2007 season, Henry had signed for Barça for €24 million.

The Griezmann case

One other related case is Antoine Griezmann. In 2018, Barça had been able to pay his launch clause and had already spoken with him. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez had been even blissful to welcome him as Neymar’s alternative.

Every thing seemed set till Griezmann publicly turned down the supply via a documentary referred to as ‘The Determination’. The movie shocked followers and harm the membership, particularly president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Regardless of this, only a yr later, Griezmann got here again into the image. This time, Bartomeu went forward with the deal, although many followers and Messi weren’t totally on board.

Barça paid €120 million to activate his launch clause, and in July 2019, Griezmann formally signed a contract till 2024.

Nico could possibly be the following large arrival

Now, similar to with Henry and Griezmann, Nico could lastly be about to put on the well-known Barcelona shirt.

The membership has proven persistence, waited for the precise time, and if all goes nicely, Nico will quickly grow to be the most recent addition to Hansi Flick’s new-look squad.

All indicators level to the deal going via, and Barcelona followers will hope that the wait proves to be value it, similar to it did earlier than.