Xavi backs Nico Williams over Antony as Barcelona eye decisive summer move

Xavi’s clear preference for Nico Williams over Antony has poured fuel on Barcelona’s winger hunt, aligning with the club’s long-standing admiration of the Spain international. Nico’s pace, 1v1 explosion and end product dovetail with Barça’s need for natural width on the left, complementing Lamine Yamal on the opposite flank. With a release clause widely reported in the €50–60m range and an attainable salary structure if exits free up room, optimism is rising that Barça can finally act. Compared to Antony’s inconsistent end product, Nico represents a cleaner, system-friendly upgrade — and the kind of instant-impact signing Barça have craved.

In a recent public Q&A, Xavi was asked to choose between Nico Williams and Antony and answered decisively in favor of Nico Williams. The remark arrives as Barcelona’s recruitment team, led by Deco, continue to monitor Nico’s situation at Athletic Club, where the winger is tied to a release clause understood to be in the €50–60m range. Nico, fresh off a standout international cycle and consistent La Liga form, profiles as a natural left-sided outlet. Within Barcelona’s current tactical blueprint that values width, pressing and directness from wide areas, the 21-year-old’s profile fits the roster balance alongside right-sided phenom Lamine Yamal.

Xavi: "Nico Williams or Antony? Nico Williams."

@BarcaUniversal

Impact Analysis

Xavi’s endorsement doesn’t sign contracts, but it does shape narratives and aligns with what many inside and outside the club already believe: Nico Williams is the archetype Barcelona have been missing on the left. His elite acceleration, ball-carrying under pressure and high-frequency take-ons stretch low blocks and open half-spaces for midfield runners. In game states where Barça stall in front of compact defenses, Nico’s gravity pins fullbacks and center-backs, creating crossing lanes and cut-backs at a higher expected-assist rate. Crucially, his defensive work-rate and pressing angles translate to quick regains in the opposition half — a pillar of Barça’s identity in their best iterations.

From a market perspective, a fixed-price release clause is a strategic advantage. It caps the fee and shifts negotiations to wages and payment structure. Compared to Antony, whose profile skews heavily to right-wing, inverted play and ball-to-foot sequences without consistent output, Nico offers multi-phase value: ball progression, chance creation, and transition threat. Commercially, a Spain international in his prime years amplifies brand synergy and domestic appeal. If Barça can align sales and salary margin, this is the rare move that improves the XI immediately while retaining resale value. The message to supporters and the dressing room would be equally strong: targeted, system-first recruitment is back.

Reaction

The comments section erupted the second the choice was made public. The majority read the moment exactly as culés have been preaching for months: Nico’s flair and raw pace feel tailor-made for Barcelona’s left touchline. “Fits Barça perfectly” and “easy choice” became the refrain, capturing the fanbase’s fatigue with stopgaps and square pegs. Supporters envision a dynamic tandem with Lamine Yamal — one stretching left, one slicing right — finally restoring verticality and unpredictability to a team that too often circles without penetration.

There was, as ever, noise. A couple of off-topic promotions drowned threads, but they couldn’t blunt the momentum of the footballing debate. The minority countered with concerns about finances and squad hierarchy, noting the need to protect Yamal’s development and manage Raphinha’s role. Others questioned whether a public endorsement adds pressure on the front office or inflates expectations around a release-clause chase. Still, the prevailing mood was clear: if the club truly wants to tilt games back in their favor against deep blocks, Nico is the aggressive, modern solution. The fanbase sees identity and intent in this pursuit — and they are ready to embrace it.

Social reactions

Easy choice, Nico wins

BLOCKXS.COM (@blockxs)

🚨 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡: Lamine Yamal will be fit and ready for the Clásico on October 26, as per Marca.

The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX)

Nico’s flair and pace fit Barça’s style perfectly.

Idleman_D (@Idleman_D0)

Prediction

Expect Barcelona to accelerate groundwork on two parallel tracks. First, internal cap engineering: finalize outgoing moves and salary adjustments to satisfy LaLiga’s registration rules, clearing headroom for a top-bracket winger contract. Second, external alignment: formalize terms with Nico’s camp early — project role, wage structure, bonuses — so that triggering the clause becomes a procedural step rather than the start of negotiations. That sequencing minimizes uncertainty and prevents a late Premier League hijack.

Athletic Club will stand firm on the clause, as they should. Barça’s leverage will come from the player pathway and sporting project, which Nico values. If momentum holds, a rapid, structured payment plan is plausible once exits are confirmed. Antony, while admired by parts of the market, remains a distant Plan B given fit and cost relative to output. The likeliest timeline features a short, sharp window: agreement in principle with the player, swift execution of the clause, and registration once financial filings land. If unforeseen hurdles arise, Barça could pivot to short-term insurance on the flank, but all signs point to a focused push for Nico as the marquee wide addition.

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Conclusion

Xavi’s succinct verdict crystallizes what the data, the eye test, and the squad map have already whispered: Nico Williams is the right profile at the right time for Barcelona. He restores natural width, adds vertical punch, and complements a generational right winger without compromising pressing standards. The economics are clear and controllable through a release clause; the sporting case is overwhelming. This pursuit signals a move away from improvisation toward coherence — a targeted solution to a recurring problem.

For supporters, the takeaway is optimism with purpose. The club doesn’t need a splash for its own sake; it needs a winger who shifts game states. Nico does exactly that. If the front office executes exits and keeps the wage bill disciplined, the path from endorsement to execution is straightforward. The next weeks should be about diligence, sequencing, and calm decisiveness. Land Nico, and Barcelona’s attack instantly looks balanced, modern, and built to decide big nights again.