Nico Williams shocks Barcelona by signing long-term deal with Athletic Club

In recent events surrounding FC Barcelona, a Premier League star made headlines due to a reported agreement to join the club this summer. Reports indicated that Nico Williams, a left winger, had allegedly reached a deal with Barcelona's leadership, including President Joan Laporta and Sporting Director Deco. This was supposed to culminate in a transfer amounting to a substantial annual salary until 2031, contingent upon uplifting a €58 million release clause. However, unexpectedly, prior to the weekend, Williams announced a contract extension with Athletic Club, surprising the Catalan club, which resulted in a 50% increase in his release clause and effectively sidestepping FC Barcelona's interest. As a consequence, Barcelona's search for a left winger took a new direction, focusing on Liverpool's Luis Diaz and Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, both of whom were considered alternatives after the Williams snub. Concurrently, reports suggested that Barcelona's talks with Diaz’s agent had intensified, with Diaz expressing his desire to move to Catalonia. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich emerged as a potential contender for Diaz's signature amid ongoing injury woes affecting their own squad. Further complicating Barcelona's recruitment plans, they faced financial challenges, having recently agreed to a significant fine from UEFA for not adhering to Financial Fair Play guidelines. In other news, FC Barcelona confirmed the signing of Roony Bardghji, a Swedish teenage sensation of Moroccan descent from FC Copenhagen, who has passed his medical and is expected to join the first team upon recovery from an injury. He is set to provide competition for existing players and bolster Barcelona’s attacking options while being mindful of the club's current financial constraints.