Real Madrid will not trigger the release clause, worth €50 million, to sign Spanish international Nico Williams from Athletic Club.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Real Madrid will look to negotiate an acceptable sum to sign Nico Williams. The budding Spanish international has a release clause worth €50 million in his contract with Athletic Club.
Nico Williams began his youth career at CD Pamplona before joining CA Osasuna as a ten-year-old. The 20-year-old moved to Athletic Club a year later before rising through the ranks at the Basque outfit. And he has gone from strength to strength since making his first-team debut towards the end of the 2020/21 season.
Williams is now a pivotal figure for Los Leones while also breaking into the Spanish national squad. The budding attacker has four goals and four assists in 15 appearances thus far this season. And he is currently in Qatar to represent Spain at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In addition, the player’s progress has captured the attention of Real Madrid.
Real Madrid will likely prioritise signing a creative midfielder next summer, with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos approaching the end of their respective careers. But Los Blancos might have to delve into the market for a wide attacker amid uncertainties surrounding the future of Eden Hazard.
The Belgian international has struggled to rediscover his best form this season and is at the bottom of the pecking order in the offensive unit. With Hazard likely to leave next summer, Real Madrid will have to seek a replacement from the market. And Nico Williams has emerged as a viable target.
The budding Spanish international has a release clause worth €50 million in his contract with Athletic Club. But Florentino Perez has a policy wherein he does not trigger such clauses. So Real Madrid will likely look to negotiate a lower sum instead of shelling out €50 million to sign the 20-year-old.
But that is a tricky situation, considering Premier League clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are also keen on signing Williams. It will be interesting to see if the refusal to pay €50 million comes back to haunt Real Madrid next year.
