Arsenal snubbed! Flick's personal call seals deal for £49m Euro 2024 star
Arsenal’s hopes of landing Nico Williams are fading fast after Barcelona reopened talks with the player’s agent and manager Hansi Flick reportedly stepped in to personally convince the winger.
However, the Athletic Club forward appears increasingly drawn to a move within La Liga, with sources in Spain suggesting Barcelona’s interest is gaining serious momentum.
Sporting director Deco held a 90-minute meeting with Williams’s agent, Felix Tainta, on Friday, reigniting a deal that collapsed last year due to registration issues.
Soon after, Lamine Yamal posted a photo of himself with Williams — both teammates for Spain — on social media, fuelling speculation of a potential reunion at club level.
The 22-year-old is said to be enthusiastic about joining the Catalans and is willing to accept the €12 million gross salary previously offered by the club.
Crucially, manager Hansi Flick is also believed to have spoken with Williams directly to outline his plans, indicating a green light from the dugout for the move.
Barcelona’s primary target for the left wing remains Luis Diaz, but financial constraints could make a deal for the Liverpool winger unworkable.
That puts Williams firmly back in contention, especially with his preference to remain in Spain and his strong connections to the current Barca squad.
Athletic Club remain determined to retain their star man and have opened talks over a new deal, while Bayern Munich are also monitoring the situation closely ahead of the Club World Cup.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are in the background despite being one of the few clubs willing to activate the winger’s release clause.
The Gunners have offered a high-value contract to Williams and remain keen to strengthen their wide options ahead of the new season.
Williams scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 45 appearances for Athletic last season, and helped Spain win Euro 2024 with a string of standout displays.
Athletic Club president Jon Uriarte insists the club have a compelling project and are doing all they can to convince him to stay.
But with Barcelona now stepping up their efforts, Arsenal may be forced to turn their attention elsewhere once again.
The post Arsenal snubbed! Flick's personal call seals deal for £49m Euro 2024 star first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.