Barcelona had set aside the No. 10 shirt for top target in the summer, will return for him in 2025

A recent report from SPORT has revealed that Barcelona had earmarked the iconic No. 10 shirt for Nico Williams during the summer transfer window. Unfortunately, plans did not unfold as hoped, and the club is now expected to revisit this interest in 2025.

Nico was undeniably one of Barcelona’s main targets this past summer. There was considerable optimism surrounding a potential transfer, as he had shown a willingness to join the club.

However, the deal fell through primarily due to financial constraints. The situation had progressed to such an extent that the club had even reserved the No. 10 shirt for the talented forward, indicating their serious intention to bring him on board, especially as they planned to offload Ansu Fati at that time.

What really happened?

According to the report, Barcelona had initially set aside €62 million to activate the winger’s release clause. However, negotiations gradually cooled as the club found it challenging to meet the player’s financial demands.

Although everything seemed to be falling into place for this transfer, there were uncertainties regarding the registration process. Past experiences, such as Dani Olmo missing the first two matches of the season due to similar registration issues, created apprehension within the club.

One avenue considered to facilitate the Spaniard’s transfer was securing a new contract with Nike. However, the club opted for a more cautious approach, choosing to wait rather than rushing into an agreement that would have compromised their broader financial strategies for just one player.

In conclusion, while Nico was a prime target for Barcelona this summer, the combination of financial challenges and registration uncertainties meant that the transfer could not be finalised.

In spite of the recent disappointment, the club remains hopeful and is planning to make another attempt next year, eager to bring the young talent to the team.