Jakarta –
Barcelona is being able to bring Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao even though it already has Raphinha which is the mainstay on the left wing. How coach Hansi Flick Maximizing the two?
The Athletic reported last week that Williams had reached a verbal agreement with Barcelona. The value of the release clause of 60 million euros contained in the contract is considered not a significant problem.
Then this week, Williams had reported to Bilbao that he had intended to move to Barcelona. Even so, this agreement will only be completed the fastest next month. Barcelona wants Williams transfer fees to enter the year of bookkeeping season 2025-26.
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The arrival of Williams, if this transfer is truly realized, it will raise new questions. Despite having a different playing style, the position is the same as Raphinha. Will he be sacrificed by Flick?
As the Athletic explained, Williams had an advantage in colliding one on one with the opposing defender, something that was ‘lacking’ in Raphinha. The number of Williams’ success passed the opponent per 90 minutes only lost to Lamine Yamal.
Even so, Raphinha has another advantage, namely goals and assistance. Last season, there were 34 goals and 25 assistance he made in 57 matches with Barca. This figure is far ahead of Williams who only scored 11 goals and seven assists in 45 matches with Bilbao.
Both are also different style of playing. Williams is a traditional winger that moves a lot on the side of the field, while Raphinha is given permission by Flick to frequently enter the middle area, playing a role like player number 10 alias attacking midfielder. This is what makes his goals and assistance abundant.
The presence of Williams, according to the club’s internal sources, will make Flick maximize Raphinha by playing more to the middle, so that both of them will not ‘collide’.
In the end, the balance of Barca’s attacks was believed to be disrupted, but instead helped Flick use the potential of Raphinha as well as possible. Is that really what will happen? The time will answer it.
(adp/ran)
