FC Barcelona has put Nico Williams back on the table. According to Sport, the club’s sporting director, Deco, held a meeting that lasted over an hour and a half with Félix Tainta, the agent of the Athletic Club winger, at a hotel in the city. The unexpected summit marks a shift in Barça’s stance after publicly ruling out a move months ago, as stated by Joan Laporta himself.

Nico’s release clause and European interest

The deal, which had seemed off the table, is back in the spotlight amid strong interest from abroad. Both Bayern Munich and Arsenal are reportedly willing to pay his €62 million release clause (around $66.5 million). Still, neither club has met the player’s salary demands yet. Williams, for his part, wants to stay in LaLiga and is open to a move to Hansi Flick’s side—provided the registration issues can be sorted out.

Meanwhile, Athletic Club is doing all it can to hold onto the 22-year-old, working on a contract extension that would include a significant salary bump to keep him beyond 2027. However, Barcelona’s search for a left winger might tip the scales, especially since signing their first-choice target, Luis Díaz from Liverpool, would cost over $85 million.

Barça’s situation shapes the strategy

With Díaz’s price tag and Barcelona’s financial restrictions, the club is forced to look at other options like Nico Williams or even Marcus Rashford, who’s also been linked with a move to Catalonia in recent weeks. The meeting between Deco and the player’s agent not only reopens the door for a transfer but shows that both sides are genuinely exploring the possibility.

Nico Williams’ close relationship with several Barça players and his familiarity with the Catalan environment could be key if a move happens. While nothing is official yet, this recent development suggests the club’s interest in the Basque winger is still alive and could progress quickly if the financial and sporting conditions line up.