Barcelona have been clear with their summer plans. They want a proper left winger, someone who can stretch play, beat defenders, and offer goals.
Nico Williams has been their top choice for weeks. Young, explosive, and hungry, he ticks all the boxes of Hansi Flick.
The club had made real progress with him too. A verbal deal on salary and contract length had been agreed.
Things were looking smooth. Barcelona fans were already imagining him in the famous Blaugrana shirt.
But then, the mood changed. The forward’s agent started making demands. Not on the money or the years but about registration guarantees.
Barcelona are trying to be careful after facing past struggles in registering new signings. But Nico’s agent wants hard proof written into the contract.
That has made things tense. The deal has not collapsed, but it has definitely hit a wall. This delay has brought another name back into the picture.
At first glance, the alternative looks like Marcus Rashford. Left winger, plays in the Premier League, and has had links with Barcelona in the past.
He fits the profile. Fast, experienced, and capable of stepping into the side right away. But it is not him.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the player Deco never stopped tracking is Luis Diaz. The 28-year-old Colombian was actually the club’s original top target.
Deco had him in mind before Nico entered the scene. Diaz is older, but he brings something Nico does not; versatility.
The winger can also play through the middle as well and has more big-game experience. The issue with Diaz, however, lies with Liverpool.
The English club have not opened talks. The winger wants the move, but the Reds have shown no sign of letting him go.
Still, Barcelona are keeping the door open. Until Nico Williams is signed and sealed, they are not ruling anything out. The deal for Luis Diaz to Barcelona may not be dead just yet.
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