FC Barcelona are intent on strengthening their team for the upcoming 2025-26 season, and for this purpose, they have already signed the goalkeeper Joan Garcia from RCD Espanyol after paying his €25 million release clause.
However, they are not done making signings, and are now looking to reinforce their attack by signing a new forward. In this regard, they are being closely linked with the Athletic Club winger Nico Williams.
Some reports indicate that the Blaugranes have already reached a personal agreement with the Spaniard, and everything points to him joining Barcelona this summer.
Joan Laporta defying Johan Cruyff
While this would be a highly exciting move for the fans, MARCA has noted in one of its reports how Joan Laporta has defied a figure that he venerates, i.e., the former Barcelona player and coach Johan Cruyff.
One of the Dutchman’s more memorable mottos was: “Anyone who doubts playing for Barça is no longer useful to us”. The Dutch icon was clear that any player who was not fully committed, involved, or loyal to Barcelona did not deserve to wear the blue and garnet jersey.
Laporta stood to Cruyff’s maxim in regards to Nico Williams till a few days back. He was not considering his signing after the winger had rejected Barcelona last year, and had crossed his name from his list of candidates to reinforce the left wing position.
However, the €70 million-rated player’s complete willingness to play for the Blaugrana club, expressed clearly in the meeting between his agent and Deco, made Laporta reconsider his position and forgive Nico Williams for his last year’s insolence.
Two other similar instances
Still, this is not the first time Joan Laporta has forgiven a player for his earlier refusal to join his team, as he did the same with Thierry Henry back in 2007, after he had rejected a move a year earlier.
Another notable example of this trend was made by another president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, when he signed Antoine Griezmann in 2019 after his decision to reject a move to the Blaugrana club in the prior year.