Problems with financial fair play prevented FC Barcelona from signing Nico Williams for their squad. The transfer was not feasible last summer.
The player was determined to sign for Barça. However, he wasn't willing to risk leaving Athletic to lose his contract and not be able to play.
He Would be a Substitute in the Current Barça
A lot has happened since August. On the one hand, Barça is still having the same problems signing new players. Dani Olmo can attest to that.
On the other hand and on the sporting side, Raphinha has gone wild. He's become an undisputed starter for Hansi Flick alongside Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal up front.
That is to say, if Nico Williams had signed for Barça he would now be Raphinha's substitute. He would be the first choice in attack, but a substitute.
His Future is in the Premier League
Nico Williams has kept his word and hasn't renewed his contract with Athletic Bilbao, so his release clause remains at 60 million euros.
But Barça can't agree to his transfer because they are still having problems registering him. From a sporting point of view, his arrival is no longer as essential as it was last summer.
The Catalonian club and Nico Williams's agent have remained in constant contact with the hope of closing the deal next summer. The transfer won't happen, however. Now Barça has given him the green light to negotiate with other clubs.
Nico Williams had been told by Camp Nou that, in order to move forward with the transfer, he would have to announce his departure and his desire to leave Bilbao to end up at Barcelona.
That won't happen. Now Nico Williams has changed his goals and direction. His future is in the Premier League.
Lamine Yamal: Desolate
This is what The Athletic reports, which insists that Barça has already forgotten about him. His new horizons are in the Premier League, with the Bundesliga as a second option.
The candidates to sign him are Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and Bayern Munich.
Nico Williams is a hot item on the market. He is one of the stars of the European champion Spain and he only costs 60 million. What's more, he is only 22 years old.
Barça has given up on signing him and Lamine is left without a friend he already saw in the squad. It's the harsh reality of a club that can't sign anyone right now.