FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta told Catalunya Radio that the club has the money to sign breakout Spain star Nico Williams this summer.
Alongside Barca winger Lamine Yamal, the Athletic Club wideman has been key to La Roja beating top sides such as holders Italy and hosts Germany at the ongoing Euros, and therefore helping set up a last four meeting with France on Tuesday.
It is said that Nico can be bought by interested parties providing they activate his $54 million (€50 million) release clause, and despite Barca’s well-documented financial issues, Laporta insisted that the Catalans can afford to land the forward.
“Obviously I like him, and a lot. Today we can afford to sign Nico Williams. We can cope with a signing like Nico’s,” Laporta insisted, adding that the club is “working on the operations that Flick asks us to do” in relation to new head coach Hansi.
More specifically on fired club legend Xavi Hernandez’s successor, Laporta said that Flick “speaks English and is making an effort to learn Catalan and Spanish”.
“It is a commitment on his part, he is very serious. We will make a presentation and the idea is that he will hold a press conference before going on tour” of the United States, Laporta revealed.
Unlikely to feature on said tour, which features friendlies against top European sides such as bitter rivals Real Madrid, are Pedri and Ronald Araujo.
Pedri had his Euros ended by a rash challenge from Madrid legend Toni Kroos, which the now retired playmaker has apologized for, when smashing his left knee into the turf upon landing and spraining an internal ligament early in Spain’s 2-1 extra time win over Germany.
As for Araujo, he lasted 33 minutes of a fiery Copa America clash for Uruguay against Brazil which La Celeste won on penalties, and left the Allegiant Stadium pitch in tears with a hamstring niggle that also terminated his involvement in the continental competition.
“Starting the season again with Pedri injured is not funny to me, but I am sure that with the new coaches things will go well. With Araujo too, we have to be strong and try to have a competitive squad,” Laporta said about this.
