The Spanish champions are edging towards completing their second major summer signing, but how exactly will he fit into Hansi Flick's starting XI?
It looks like Barcelona will finally get their man. After more than 12 months of intense speculation, Nico Williams has reportedly agreed to a six-year deal with the Catalan giants, who are now set to trigger the €58 million (£50m/$67m) release clause in his Athletic Club contract.
Work must be done to ensure Barca can fit Williams' salary within La Liga limits, with sporting director Deco expected to sanction several sales in the coming weeks. Ansu Fati and Ronald Araujo are among the outfield players likely to be on the chopping block, while Marc-Andre ter Stegen seems increasingly certain to depart after the arrival of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
There should, then, be no repeat of the Dani Olmo registration fiasco that provided an unwanted sideshow for so much of Barca's 2024-25 campaign. Bayern Munich and Arsenal have also been linked with Williams, but he's made it clear that Catalunya is his first-choice destination, with even claiming he is willing to take a wage cut.
Barca certainly feels like a natural next step for Williams after four seasons of impressive growth at Athletic Club. The 22-year-old has become one of the most consistent performers in La Liga while also earning a regular role in the Spain national team, and should have little trouble making the transition to Hansi Flick's side.
The only question mark is how exactly Flick is planning to tweak his line up to accommodate Williams. Barca were the most scintillating attacking team in Europe last term, and there is a risk of the frontline being thrown out of balance if the manager doesn't get this decision right…
Getty ImagesYamal kinship
It's not difficult to understand why Williams has been a long-term priority target for Barca. He's registered an impressive haul of 18 goal involvements for Athletic over the past year, and has also been a tremendous sidekick for Lamine Yamal at international level.
Yamal usually steals the headlines when Spain play, his dazzling two-goal display against France in the semi-finals of the Nations League being the latest example, but Williams also plays a vital role in Luis de la Fuente's set-up. Williams is not quite as unpredictable as the Barcelona wonderkid, but he is equally as adept at stretching defences and providing teasing crosses.
Indeed, it could even be argued that Williams outshone Yamal during Spain's run to Euro 2024 glory, as he capped a stellar tournament by scoring in the final against England. At club level, Williams' numbers don't yet match up to his compatriot, but that could easily change at Barca.
The main thing, from the Blaugrana's standpoint, is that both youngsters bring the best out of each other. Despite being separated by roughly 70 meters across the pitch, Williams and Yamal have a natural kinship that has helped transform Spain back into the most feared national team on the planet again, and Barca will be hoping it can get them over the line in the Champions League next season.
AdvertisementGetty/GOALStraight swap
For the money being paid, there is no chance of Williams being just a squad player at Barca. He is being touted to be a starter on the left wing, a role currently occupied by Raphinha.
Last summer, Barca's pursuit of Williams left Raphinha disillusioned. At that stage, the Spain attacker looked like an obvious upgrade on the Brazilian, who had endured a largely frustrating 2023-24 campaign under Xavi.
But when the deal didn't go through, Raphinha stopped sulking and set about proving Barca's recruitment team wrong. Flick put the former Leeds United man's versatility to far better use than Xavi ever did, and he quickly became the driving force behind the team's assault on all three major trophies.
In 55 appearances across all competitions, Raphinha recorded a combined total of 56 goals and assists. The 28-year-old finally unlocked his world-class potential as Barca clinched a domestic double and reached the Champions League semi-finals, setting a shining example with his work rate and professionalism. Raphinha's influence was so great he may even be rewarded with the 2025 Ballon d'Or. As such, after such a glorious redemption story, it would be incredibly harsh if Barca go through with their original plan to drop him for Williams.
There is, however, no doubt that Williams is more of an old-school left-winger than Raphinha. In Flick's system, the Brazil international has taken on more of a playmaker role while tucking inside to lead Barca's press from the centre. In stark contrast, Williams will hug the touchline and look to attack his marker at every opportunity.
Getty/GOALRaphinha in the Ronaldinho role
The obvious solution, then, is for Flick to make Raphinha Barca's new Ronaldinho. He featured as a No.10 in six games last season, with his standout display coming in a 5-0 Champions League demolition of Young Boys, in which he produced a magical pass for Robert Lewandowski's opening goal before scoring the second himself.
Raphinha is quite capable of dancing past multiple defenders and conjuring up incisive through-balls from nowhere, while he also boasts the agility and control to change direction quickly under pressure. Barca can rely on Raphinha to be their creator-in-chief, just as they did with Ronaldinho in the Frank Rijkaard era.
Interestingly, though, Raphinha sees himself more in the mould of another of the club's iconic Brazilian No.10s. "Off the pitch I am a bit more like Ronaldinho and on the pitch a bit more like Rivaldo, more focused, more serious," he said when quizzed on comparisons with Ronaldinho in March.
It would be more accurate to describe Raphinha as a hybrid of the two, combining Ronaldinho's flair with Rivaldo's goal-scoring instincts. But the bottom line is: he is far too good to sit on the bench. Raphinha can continue to evolve alongside Williams, Flick just has to make the necessary adjustments.
Getty Images SportMidfield implications
Flick has favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation in his time at Barca so far, risking an ultra-high backline so as to focus on suffocating the opposition to regain possession quickly and look for the most direct route to goal. The No.10 position has, for the most part, been shared between Olmo and Fermin Lopez, who have both excelled.
They will, though, be relegated to a place among the substitutes if Raphinha is moved into the middle. Dropping them deeper won't be an option, because of the brilliant partnership that Pedri and Frenkie de Jong have formed just in front of the defence, with Gavi currently serving in a back-up capacity.
Doubts would inevitably be raised over Olmo and Fermin's futures if this happens, and Flick could switch to a 4-4-2 so as to put one of them in the centre next to Pedri or De Jong, with Raphinha supporting Lewandowski, but that could adversely affect Barca's pressing game.
One way or another, Williams' arrival is going to upset the apple cart. At least one key player is going to be phased out, with Yamal perhaps the only untouchable figure in Flick's ranks.