As FC Barcelona edges closer to finalizing the signing of Nico Williams from Athletic Club, senior winger Raphinha has publicly welcomed the Spanish international, calling him a “player of the highest quality” and emphasizing the importance of team-first mentality amid growing competition for attacking roles.
🔁 €58M Deal Nearing Completion
Barcelona is reportedly set to activate Williams’s €58 million release clause, with club president Joan Laporta confirming the move is in its final stages. The 22-year-old winger, who starred for Spain in the Euro 2024 final, is expected to sign a six-year deal through 2031.
🗣️ Raphinha: “No Room for Sadness or Ego”
Despite the potential overlap in positions, Raphinha expressed full support for Williams’s arrival:
“It is no coincidence that he is being considered to play with us at Barcelona and that he plays in the senior Spanish national team. He is a player of the highest quality,” Raphinha told Mundo Deportivo.
He added that any player who joins with the intent to work hard and contribute to the team will be “very welcome,” signaling a healthy competitive spirit within the squad.
⚽ Tactical Implications for Hansi Flick
With Lamine Yamal excelling on the right and Raphinha recently shifting to the left, Williams’s addition could:
- Offer versatility across the front three
- Allow manager Hansi Flick to rotate and rest key players
- Enable Raphinha to play a more central or creative role
Barcelona’s attacking trio of Raphinha, Lewandowski, and Yamal combined for 34 goals and 22 assists in the 2024–25 season, which ended with a domestic treble under Flick’s debut campaign.
🧠 Team Culture Over Individualism
Raphinha’s comments reflect a broader ethos at Barcelona, where internal competition is seen as a catalyst for excellence:
“There’s no room for sadness or depression about anything, with the arrival of one or another… That’s the most important thing,” he said.
Stay tuned for the official unveiling and preseason lineup projections.
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