Barcelona agree deal to sign Nico Williams’ alternative – But it’s not Liverpool’s Luis Diaz
In a transfer window defined by dramatic twists and missed opportunities, Barcelona has finally reached a breakthrough in their pursuit of a left-wing reinforcement. After long and frustrating negotiations for top targets, the Catalan giants have agreed a deal to sign an alternative to Nico Williams—and it’s not Luis Diaz, as many had expected.
Barcelona’s pursuit of Athletic Club’s Nico Williams began with optimism and mutual interest. Sporting director Deco and agent Felix Tainta—a well-known figure in the Basque soccer scene who also represents Yeray Alvarez, Inaki Williams, and Robert Navarro—held multiple rounds of productive talks. Barcelona president Joan Laporta even approved the deal early, seeing Nico’s arrival as a strategic boost both on and off the pitch. The dream of pairing him with Lamine Yamal on the flanks had fans salivating.
But just as the finish line approached, everything crumbled. “Deco had already scheduled the medical in Barcelona. Everything seemed on track. Then the communication stalled without warning,” reports Sport.
As negotiations slowed, one Barcelona official reportedly contacted the player directly, bypassing his agent in a desperate attempt to keep the transfer alive. That was followed by an astonishing move—a WhatsApp message to the Williams family suggesting they replace Tainta with super agents Jorge Mendes or Pini Zahavi, both of whom have strong ties to Laporta.
“The message was seen as deeply disrespectful by the Williams family, who have long trusted Tainta,” adds Diario AS. The reaction was immediate. The very same day, Nico Williams signed a new long-term deal with Athletic Club. A renewal video was recorded overnight and made public the next morning. In a twist of deja vu, just like the summer prior, the Blaugrana missed out on one of Spain’s most promising wingers—this time, because of one poorly judged message.
Why Luis Diaz didn’t happen either
With Williams out of the picture, Barcelona pivoted to another long-standing target—Luis Diaz of Liverpool. However, financial realities proved too difficult to overcome.
“Barcelona is clear that it is not going to commit crazy things for Luis Diaz,” reported Mundo Deportivo, claiming the club had capped their offer at €60 million.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich has already submitted two bids, both higher than Barca’s cap. Diaz himself is said to have told Liverpool he prefers the German giant, and with the Reds eyeing Hugo Ekitike as a potential replacement, Diaz’s departure could still happen—but not to Barcelona.
Enter the third option
With both primary targets ruled out, Barcelona turned to a third name—Marcus Rashford. The Manchester United forward, coming off a loan stint at Aston Villa (four goals and six assists in 17 games), had already expressed his desire to move to Spain back in January. With United’s new coach Rúben Amorim leaving the Englishman out of future plans, the door was open.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the clubs have reached a broad agreement on a season-long loan with an option to buy for the 27-year-old England international. The deal is now in its final stages, with only minor details like salary distribution and performance clauses left to iron out.
“Barcelona will plan medicals for the forward in the coming days,” confirmed Fabrizio Romano. Rashford is not just a fallback—he’s potentially a game-changing signing. With 426 appearances, 138 goals, and 77 assists for Manchester United, his versatility and experience make him ideal for Hansi Flick’s system.
While Juventus reportedly made a last-minute approach, Rashford’s desire to wear the Blaugrana shirt was unwavering. He has reportedly agreed to take a major pay cut from his $436,000-a-week wages to make the move happen.