Bayern Munich's enthusiasm for signing Williams was stifled due to high wage requirements.
In a surprising turn of events, Bayern Munich have decided against signing Nico Williams from Athletic Club Bilbao, citing financial reasons and high salary demands as the main factors.
The Bavarian giants had shown strong interest in the Spanish winger last year, with negotiations reportedly underway. Williams himself had expressed his openness to a move to Munich, making Bayern the front-runner in the race for his signature over other European clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea.
However, the salary demands for Williams proved to be too steep for Bayern Munich. Reports suggest that the winger was seeking a gross salary of around €20 million per annum, with some sources suggesting a range between €20 million and €24 million. This translates roughly to €10 million net in Spain.
Despite the high salary demands, Bayern Munich were willing to meet or surpass the €60-65 million release clause. However, the financial implications of offering such a high salary proved to be unfeasible for the club.
Max Eberl, Bayern's sporting director, clarified the decision, stating, "The salary demands for Nico Williams did not affect Bayern Munich's decision. We have always been transparent about our financial situation and the need to make prudent decisions."
Eberl further emphasized that the discussion about the salary demands for Williams is not the main topic today. He did not disclose the exact magnitude of the salary demands but confirmed that they were too high for Bayern Munich to consider.
Meanwhile, the release clause for Williams has reportedly been increased by more than 50%, with the current figure set at 62 million euros according to media reports.
In other news, Thomas Müller will leave Bayern Munich after the Club World Cup in the USA. The decision not to sign Williams was made by Bayern Munich's sporting director, Christoph Freund, and Max Eberl ahead of the Club World Cup quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain in Atlanta.
Bayern Munich will not engage in negotiations for Williams, as they continue to focus on financial prudence and maintaining a balanced squad. Meanwhile, Leroy Sané has joined Turkish giants Galatasaray Istanbul on a free transfer, while Mathys Tel has permanently moved to English club Tottenham Hotspur.
Despite initial interest and negotiations, Bayern Munich withdrew from signing Nico Williams due to exorbitant salary demands, which exceeded their financial boundaries, even though they were willing to meet or surpass his release clause. With Bayern focusing on financial prudence and maintaining a balanced squad, Williams' transition to other European clubs such as Arsenal or Chelsea might now become a reality.
