La Liga president Javier Tebas has confirmed Barcelona are capable of signing Spain star Nico Williams this summer.
Williams has emerged as one of the most coveted players of the transfer window after impressing during Spain’s run to the final of Euro 2024.
The 21-year-old’s electric performances have caught the eye of Premier League teams including Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, though Barcelona have emerged as frontrunners to agree a deal.
Despite the club’s economic difficulties, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed the club’s interest in Williams and said the Catalans have the financial power to win the race.
Tebas has confirmed that Barcelona are ‘close’ to being able to fund the deal, having agreed a ‘1/1 rule’ with La Liga that the club can invest one euro for every euro saved on exits.
“You have to think that with Barcelona’s effort to reduce their wage bill by more than 200 million and other measures that have already taken place within the club and that have nothing to do with the levers, they can perfectly bring in a player like Nico Williams,” Tebas told Sport.
“I think he has a termination clause of 85 million: when you buy for 85 million, the amortisation is divided by the years of the contract; if you sign him for five, it would be less than 20 million per year, plus what you pay the player.
“Barça will be able to reach those amounts, perfectly acceptable if they are within the 1:1 norm. It is a club that is close to 1,000 million in turnover, it can be in that line.
“It must be remembered that the 1:1 scenario has to be fulfilled. Today he doesn’t have it, but it is the closest he is to having it. If he achieves it, he can sign Nico Williams or another player with those characteristics.”
