Barcelona’s attempt to bring Nico Williams to Camp Nou has ended in a painful setback.For months, the Spanish winger was considered a top target for the Catalan giants, with negotiations seemingly progressing smoothly. But in a surprising twist, the 22-year-old signed a contract extension with Athletic Bilbao that ties him to the club until 2035. Just when Barca thought the deal was all but sealed, Nico pulled the plug. The blow hits even harder knowing how close they were.Nico’s flirt with Barca remains nothing more than that – Williams stays at BilbaoAccording to Spanish radio outlet RAC1, the decision caught Barcelona completely off guard. They reportedly found out about the renewal at the same time as the general public—through Athletic’s official statement.Barca had been confident the transfer would go through, despite a few lingering obstacles in the final stretch of talks. Williams’s camp had requested written guarantees regarding a release clause and assurances that Barcelona, despite their ongoing financial struggles, could register the player. But the club’s leadership didn’t see these as deal-breakers. Were they overly confident? Perhaps.Adding salt to the wound is the belief that it was Nico who initially approached Barcelona, fueling their pursuit in the first place. Now that he’s walked away, the feeling in the Barça camp is one of betrayal. A source within the club told RAC1: “The door is closed for him forever.”Nico Williams, who was widely reported to be close to signing for Barcelona this summer, has now extended his contract with Athletic Club until 2035 🤯 pic.twitter.com/CWX9WJ4SjM— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 4, 2025 Athletic’s response was emphatic. Not only did they secure one of their brightest talents long-term, but they also raised his release clause from 58 million to a hefty 90 million. Nico isn’t just staying—he’s become a cornerstone of the club’s identity.For Barcelona, the carefully laid plan has fallen apart. The pursuit of Nico Williams is over—at least for now. And as for Bayern Munich, who were also monitoring the situation from a distance, they too walk away empty-handed.##NAJAVA_MECA_9004793##
