Latest news with #Barcelona
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nico Williams Wants Barcelona Move But $75M Clause Creates a Problem
Nico Williams Wants Barcelona Move But $75M Clause Creates a Problem originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Many reliable reports suggest that Nico Williams' move to FC Barcelona for next season is getting closer. The Spanish winger is eager to join the reigning La Liga champions. Advertisement The 22-year-old winger is desired by many top European clubs, including Bayern Munich, but Williams's preferred destination this summer is a move to FC Barcelona. He was linked to a move to Barcelona last summer but decided to stay another season at Athletic Bilbao. This summer is different, as the player reportedly told Barcelona his strong desire to join the club. RAC 1 reports that FC Barcelona will try and sign Nico Williams this summer. Mundo Deportivo reports that FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta approved the club to approach Athletic Bilbao in signing their star winger, but the club may face a financial obstacle that could hinder the signing. Release Clause Problem Nico Williams has a release clause in his Athletic Bilbao contract that is worth around $75 million. A club like Bayern Munich is willing to pay that clause, but with the player's eagerness to join Barcelona, the German club will have to wait. Advertisement The onus is now on Barcelona's hands now to pay the release clause and sign Williams this summer, but the issue is how to pay it. El Partidazo de COPE reports that the release clause of $75 million will have to be paid fully and not in installments. Barcelona has reportedly paid in installments for recent signings. COPE also reports that Laporta is interested in other players for that position. The club is looking to build a stronger attack for next season. FC Barcelona stars tease Nico Williams' arrival Three days ago, Sport reported that Williams met with FC Barcelona to talk about a potential move to the club. After the news came out, Lamine Yamal posted an image of himself and Williams on his Instagram story. Many took it as a hint that the two will play together next season at FC Barcelona. Yamal wasn't the only Barcelona star to hint at Williams' arrival at the club. Advertisement Today, 433 posted a report from Florian Plettenberg suggesting Hansi Flick's desire to sign Nico Williams. FC Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde liked the post, and fans started to get more excited. Perhaps the move is progressing well. Other options for FC Barcelona FC Barcelona has been monitoring other players for the left-wing position. Players like Liverpool's Luis Diaz and Manchester United's Marcus Rashford are top targets for Barcelona this summer. Diaz seems the preferred option for Laporta and FC Barcelona sporting director Deco. A deal to sign Diaz is complicated, which is why FC Barcelona is looking towards signing Williams instead, according to Fabrizio Romano. Advertisement The summer transfer window officially opened today, which will allow top clubs to begin bidding for players. With Williams reportedly choosing Barcelona as his preferred destination, Barcelona will now analyze whether it can spend $75 million now to bring in the exciting Spanish talent. Related: Soccer Legend Reveals Lionel Messi's Decision on Playing In 2026 FIFA World Cup Related: FIFA Club World Cup Set to Implement Three Unique 'Americanized' Rules This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona key defender's renewal to be finalised after the summer window
Barcelona key defender's renewal to be finalised after the summer window Earlier today, reports emerged claiming that FC Barcelona had reached a verbal agreement with key defender Jules Kounde over a new contract. The 26-year-old right-back's current deal expires in 2027. Given his performances and importance in the team, the Blaugrana are keen on rewarding him with an extension – more so with some clubs in the Premier League showing interest in him. Talks on track, but no immediate renewal However, according to the latest update from Mundo Deportivo, Kounde's contract renewal will not be finalised and formalised this summer. Advertisement The report states that talks over an extension for the French international are on track and both parties are aligned towards reaching an agreement. However, the renewal will have to wait until after the summer transfer window as Barcelona currently have other priorities. New deal after the summer window. (Photo by) Indeed, the La Liga champions have more pressing matters on their hands such as the registration of new signing Joan Garcia and the activation of key target Nico Williams' €62 million release clause and his subsequent registration. For those things to happen, Barça need to free up salary space through the departure of players not in manager Hansi Flick's plans. Advertisement As such, Kounde's renewal is not seen as a priority task for the moment. However, given that both he and Barcelona are committed to continuing together, the intention is to finalise the renewal once the transfer window closes. Having joined from Sevilla in 2022, Kounde has grown into a permanent fixture in the Barcelona starting lineup. A renewal, whenever it happens, will be more than well-deserved for the Frenchman.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona hold talks with 19-year-old attacking talent
Barcelona President Joan Laporta seemed confident on Wednesday evening when declaring that the Catalan giants could 'sign normally', and the club certainly appear to be acting under that impression. Following a move for Nico Williams, the Blaugrana have held talks with another attacking talent. In this case, it is Swedish talent Roony Bardghji. The 19-year-old has been linked with a variety of Europe's top clubs since breaking through into professional football as a 16-year-old, and Fabrizio Romano reports that the Blaugrana have now held talks directly with his camp, and have been informed of the numbers it will require to make a deal happen. It is noted that Porto have already submitted an offer for Bardghji, although that is yet to be accepted. Bardghji is likely to be on the move sooner rather than later, with his current deal at Copenhagen expiring at the end of 2025. This season Bardghji has played just 243 minutes after coming back from a cruciate ligament tear. Atletico Madrid also interested in Bardghji Europe's top clubs are lining up for Bardghji despite his injury and lack of game time though, and earlier this year, Atletico Madrid were cited as one of the sides most interested in him. All the same, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been watching him closely. Barcelona have been scouting Bardghji for at least 18 months too. Photo by Lars Ronbog / FrontZoneSport via Getty Images Bardghji offensive separate to Nico Williams deal Romano does note that Barcelona's pursuit of Bardghji is separate from their move for Nico Williams, and the two deals would not have an impact on each other. The 19-year-old primarily operates off the right wing, cutting in onto his left, but has also played through the middle before. So far he has made 84 appearances, scoring 15 goals and giving one assist.
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Knicks prospect James Nnaji expected to play in NBA Summer League
Report: Knicks prospect James Nnaji expected to play in NBA Summer League Nigerian center James Nnaji is reportedly expected to play with the New York Knicks in the NBA Summer League, according to Jared Schwartz of the New York Post. The Knicks acquired the draft rights to Nnaji from the Charlotte Hornets as part of the three-team trade involving Karl-Anthony Towns. Nnaji is currently in New York, working out with the team in preparation for their upcoming stint in the annual summer showcase. Nnaji, the 31st pick in the 2023 NBA draft, played last season with Girona on loan from Barcelona, averaging 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in the Spanish League. He informed the team that he planned on moving to the United States to compete for a roster spot with the Knicks. Nnaji got a late start in basketball, only beginning to play in 2017. He joined Ratgeber Basketball Academy in Hungary and played one season with Pecsi in the top league in the country before signing with Barcelona in August 2020. The 7-footer spent three seasons with Barcelona at the junior and senior levels before Charlotte selected him in the second round. He suited up with the Hornets in summer league, averaging 3.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and two blocks in six appearances. Nnaji, 20, is highly touted because of his ability to rebound on both ends of the court and play with physicality in the post. He is very mobile for his size and boasts a 7-foot, 7-inch wingspan that enables him to get deflections and block shots at a high level. The 2025 NBA Summer League, featuring all 30 teams, will take place July 10-20 at the Thomas & Mack Center and Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona Season in Review: Hansi Flick's midas touch brings silverware
With the European season officially at an end, Football España will be reviewing each and every one of the La Liga sides and how they fared this season. Results: La Liga: 1st – 88 points Champions League: Semi-final Advertisement Copa del Rey: Winners Spanish Supercup: Winners Top Goalscorer: Robert Lewandowski – 42 Top Assister: Raphinha and Lamine Yamal – 25 Season Summary When Barcelona began the season, there were doubts about Dani Olmo, their only summer signing, and generally about Joan Laporta's second mandate. By the end of it, Olmo might remain the biggest doubt, because Hansi Flick managed to obtain the maximum out of almost everything and everyone. The season began with promise, a free-flowing attack, and a smile replaced the uniform of glum expressions at Barcelona. Major wins against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich turned optimism into genuine belief, and despite losing their way in spectacular fashion in November and December, Flick saw Barcelona come out the other side. Image viaAdvertisement In 2025, Frenkie de Jong joined Raphinha on the redemption arc, and Barcelona lost just twice on their way to three trophies in Spain, and a semi-final run in Europe. Despite repeated reports of the demise of Barcelona's high line, only an absurd goalkeeping performance and the woodwork saw Inter past the Blaugrana in the Champions League. In August, it looked as if Barcelona could be facing an era of Real Madrid dominance: Flick's side beat down that suggestion with 16 goals in four Clasicos. Verdict: A+ Maybe the plus should have been reserved for a Champions League victory, but winning La Liga was a prospect that required plenty of imagination at the start of the season. Not only did Barcelona do that, they did so in swashbuckling style, playing the best football seen in Catalonia since Luis Enrique's fearsome front three. The individual turnarounds cannot be ignored: Raphinha went from a bargaining chip to a Ballon d'Or candidate, Robert Lewandowski soared past 40 goals, Pedri went from unable to play to unplayable, and Inigo Martinez roared his defence forward with warrior abandon. Lamine Yamal was coming off a brilliant Euro 2024 campaign, but even he transformed into scarier phenomenon, whisking away big team after big team with his magical feet. Player of the Season: Raphinha An almost impossible task, that based purely contributions across the season, could probably have gone to Lamine Yamal or Pedri. Yet this was the season of Raphinha. His hunger, aggression and explosiveness typified what this Barcelona were about this year. Advertisement Time and again, Raphinha appeared, a looming monument over the football match, the Corcovado itself coming up with inspiration to down Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Benfica among others. Only an lapse, an accident, robbed him of another of those moments against Inter. Pleasant Surprise of the Season: Inigo Martinez As with the previous award, this one has other pretenders, and only his injury issues see Frenkie de Jong miss out. From the first moment though, Inigo Martinez set the tone in a young football team, and marshalled a backline that by Flick's own admission, was counter-cultural to what his ageing legs and head asked of him. Image via EFE Advertisement The 33-year-old wasn't even a certainty to be at the club this season, and by the end of the season, his absence meant goals being leaked. Behind him, first Marc-Andre ter Stegen, then the melancholy Inaki Pena, then the altogether jovial retired man helping out a mate. To his left, Alejandro Balde lacking confidence, to his right, an 18-year-old Pau Cubarsi. In front of him lay Pedri, playing deeper for the first time in three years, and Marc Casado, playing at this level for the first time. Flick's praise of Martinez was reserved for precious few. If only we could have had a bit more from: Dani Olmo Mercurial is often used as praise, but in Dani Olmo's case, it was his hindrance. There were times when Olmo produced magic that won Barcelona games, finding space in a straightjacket. Yet despite his goal against Inter, Olmo struggled to hit the right notes against Real Madrid and Italians in the closing stages. Inconsistency was aided by injury, and the feeling is that Olmo could be Barcelona's X factor, but is currently just an X factor. On the horizon, you see… Plenty of reason for more optimism. Whether they win La Liga next season or not is a different conversation, but you can almost guarantee they will challenge. Barcelona will be one of the favourites for the Champions League too, and if they can keep their key players fit, there is no reason to think the Blaugrana cannot compete with anyone, and in every competition. Image via FC Barcelona Another reason for relief is the Club World Cup. Barcelona will have a rare full preseason this summer, and more than a month off, commodities that most managers cannot buy. The good news is that Barcelona managed all this with some obvious holes in their squad, and clear room for improvement. Expectation next year will be one weight they did not have to carry around this time round though.
