The battle for Nico Williams is heating up, and now, Bayern Munich have thrown their hat into the ring, posing a serious challenge to Barcelona’s long-standing interest in the Athletic Club winger.
Speaking to Bild during the Club World Cup, Bayern’s sporting director Christoph Freund didn’t mention names outright, but his words left little to interpretation.
“We now have two players less in attack. It’s a fact. Therefore, our goal is clearly to strengthen and add quality,” he declared.
And while he avoided confirming specific targets, the German media outlet linked his remarks to three prominent names: Nico Williams, Rafael Leao, and Bradley Barcola.
Roadblock for Barcelona?
Nico has seen his stock rise rapidly following his standout performances for club and country.
With a contract at Athletic Club running until 2027, the only way out is via his €62 million release clause, an amount Bayern, unlike Barcelona, are well-equipped to meet without offloading key players first.
Bayern Munich are interested in Nico Williams. (Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images)
Barcelona, despite being Nico’s reported first choice thanks to his relationship with the Spanish national team core, remain financially handcuffed.
Sporting director Deco met with the player’s agent Felix Tainta in Barcelona recently, during which he was made aware of multiple offers, including that from Bayern.
Bayern Munich aware of the development
From the Bavarian perspective, though, the departure of Leroy Sané to Galatasaray has left a clear void on the flanks.
With Thomas Müller set to leave, Bayern are aggressively looking to reinforce their attack. Nico fits the bill perfectly as he is young, dynamic, and already a proven asset in La Liga and the international scene.
Barcelona, for their part, continue to hope for a breakthrough, possibly via player sales or a creative financial arrangement, but they are fully aware of how difficult the operation is becoming with clubs like Bayern and Arsenal lurking.
Nico’s preference may still lie with a move to Camp Nou, but if Bayern Munich activate his buyout clause and offer guaranteed playing time in a top team, the pressure on Barcelona to respond could become overwhelming.
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