Nico Williams

[Horatio]

No he doesn't, he just compared adama to Nico.

Nico dribbles and also contributed 19 assist last season and 9 goals.

Was one of the best players at the euros.

He's both a good dribbler with end product.

Adama dribbles into a brick wall.

Just take the L and move on, because now you agreeing to craziness bro lol.

Adama dribbling into a brick wall doesn’t speak to his dribbling abilities but more into dumb decision making. Nico is good at that. I have pointed it out in the past. So he will likely cut his dribbling short earlier. That’s my point since always. Nico’s spots where he will dribble is very narrow due to technical limitations. But the ones he’s very comfortable at are good.

 

[Temptation]

We have a lot of players who can provide the pass, we need someone to provide the off-the-ball movement (like a Raphinha)

From the very few games that I watched both Nico and Leao, Nico seems to provide more of this trait than Leao does.

It's not a matter of who is the better footballer, but more of who is the player that suits our needs the best.

Yup 👇

(Could totally be wrong for this)

 

[DonAK]

Does it have to be Nico vs Leao?

I would rather sign Son on a free. Hardworking finisher, would be a good Raphinha rotation player. Plus he can play CF. Great stopgap while we spend money in defence instead. It's unlikely yes.

Son would be fantastic on a two year deal.

I fear he'll renew with Spurs though.

 

[Porque]

Is it wrong of me that when I read Traore I first thought of Djimi, and why the F is everybody talking about the dribbling of Liverpools greatest ever centreback.

 

[Porque]

About Nico. Chances are that he will be a way less conservative dribbler under Flick than he is under Ernesto and Egg.

 

[jamrock]

About Nico. Chances are that he will be a way less conservative dribbler under Flick than he is under Ernesto and Egg.

That's my thinking too.

 

[jamrock]

Son is happy not winning in at spurs.

Re the potential nico signing, even though I'm one of the OG raphinha lovers on here, I've always maintained you sell high.

If we sign Nico for 60m, a younger player with big upside and ship raphinha off at the end of next season, I would have no issues with it.

Assuming nico is performing that is.

 

[DonAK]

If the price is the same I'd take Leao over Nico.

Leao is simply the more explosive player with the higher ceiling.

Whether you should commit to spending 60-70m with taxes incl. for any of them is another question. Also would you rather spend this much on the player with the higher ceiling or the one with the higher floor where the performances don't swing too much.

Nico could give you a consistent 7/10 with the occasional 10/10 game meanwhile Leao is more likely to go on a run of 10/10 performances, but could also have five matches in a row of 4/10s.

 

[Messi983]

But if anything we would need Nico for pace. What else? He was supposed to provide depth and compliment yamal skillset

Not my point.

Nico brings more than just pace. He's a well rounded player and would benefit playing opposite of Yamal (and vice-versa) rather than his brother who is a fine but also quite limited player.

If it's between Nico and Leao I take Williams any day. Also because I think he would be much cheaper because of his clause. Don't see Milan selling Leao (with contract until 2028) for less than 80-90m and they will probably ask for similar wages so don't see much difference there.

But as @Andresito said it shouldn't be just down to those two. There are other (cheaper) options, just need to find them.

Or get a veteran stop gap like above mentioned Son and sign Antonito and/or that South African kid and add them to Dani R. and Virgili and see how they'll develop over next year or two. You never know in football, 6 months ago also nobody predicted Casado will be undisputable starter now.

You don't always need to spend big to get quality players. In fact we are usually more successful with cheaper players than big money signings.

 

[Horatio]

Once Nico loses fraction of his pace he might become useless I fear.

What will he do against compact defense?

So not allowed a serious injury!

Son would be majestic.

 

[jamrock]

We need a constant 7-8/10 player, more than one who can pull 1 10/10 every now and then, leao is too all over the place.

 

[Horatio]

Not my point.

Nico brings more than just pace. He's a well rounded player and would benefit playing opposite of Yamal (and vice-versa) rather than his brother who is a fine but also quite limited player.

If it's between Nico and Leao I take Williams any day. Also because I think he would be much cheaper because of his clause. Don't see Milan selling Leao (with contract until 2028) for less than 80-90m and they will probably ask for similar wages so don't see much difference there.

But as @Andresito said it shouldn't be just down to those two. There are other (cheaper) options, just need to find them.

Or get a veteran stop gap like above mentioned Son and sign Antonito and/or that South African kid and add them to Dani R. and Virgili and see how they'll develop over next year or two. You never know in football, 6 months ago also nobody predicted Casado will be undisputable starter now.

You don't always need to spend big to get quality players. In fact we are usually more successful with cheaper players than big money signings.

I think no one here wants it to be down to just two. And if you have discovered gems of players do share with us.

But if it comes down to those two I go with Nico as well.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Leao isn't coming, and we will be lucky if we can afford Nico btw.

We need RB, LB, possibly CB, and backup winger. Those are minimum needs to have a full functioning squad. After that we could argue another CF (or starting one, it depends on who you are asking) and a GK (Since Pena step up and Ter Stegen isn't going anywhere, it takes back seat).

There is even an argument you see here in the forum that either RB or LB should be a starter, not backup one.

Can we afford paying 60M + ludicrous wages for Nico, while bringing another 3 or 4 players? I hope so, but it is questionable at best.

It is the same "we are bringing Halaand in 2026" fantasy. We are in a better financial situation, we aren't yet into that good of a financial situation.

I hope for once Laporta and co decides to address depth rather than a good starter.

 

[Messi983]

If the price is the same I'd take Leao over Nico.

Leao is simply the more explosive player with the higher ceiling.

Whether you should commit to spending 60-70m with taxes incl. for any of them is another question. Also would you rather spend this much on the player with the higher ceiling or the one with the higher floor where the performances don't swing too much.

Nico could give you a consistent 7/10 with the occasional 10/10 game meanwhile Leao is more likely to go on a run of 10/10 performances, but could also have five matches in a row of 4/10s.

Why? Nico is three years younger so if anyone he should have more room for improvement.

I've not watched Leao nearly as much as Nico but basically what you're describing is the next Dumbele (without as bad injury history). Consistency is (among availability) one of the attributes that I'm starting to give more and more importance.

And why do you believe he will ever reach his potential if he's inconsistent and apparently has problems with (self)motivation. Sure, sometimes change of club and playing alongside better players will have positive impact but I'd prefer Barca not being the club who will risk with him.

@Horatio No concrete names besides those two I've mentioned who we were linked to recently (and they would primarily be Barca B signings first) but as said, there are other options, it's up to scouts to find them.

 

[FCBarca]

He is 12th in completed take ons this season in top 5 leagues, while having the lowest success rate in top 50. Only number 50 (Eze) also has success rate lower than 40%.
Yeah, "not top notch" describes it accurately.

Unsurprisingly you have demonstrated an inability to understand statistics much less interpret them

Nico is in the same bracket as Lamine in terms of dribbling and taking on opponents - by your logic Lamine isn’t much of a dribbler either

Fbref also publish regular updates on successful 1v1 dribbling with Nico regularly at top of list per 90