Wing of the Athletic Club Nico Williams has become one of the hottest names in the transfer market over the past year, especially after the public pursuit of Barcelona. The 22-year-old is fully focused on his current part.
After winning Euro 2024 with Spain, and rejecting an offer from Barcelona in the summer, Williams' profile rose, becoming one of the faces of European football. A change that Relief report that he struggled to digest, but after a difficult start to the season, he is now enjoying his football again.
The expected formations. @sport, @mundodeportivo, @diarioas, @marca pic.twitter.com/LAIFVvphSi
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) January 8, 2025
He is focused on the short term, and is not thinking beyond the end of the season, as Athletic makes a bid for Champions League qualification in La Liga, and to reach the finals of Europe League, which is hosted in San Mames. A recent report said that Liverpool and Chelsea were both interested in Williams, but Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been pushing for a move to trigger his €60m release clause in the winter window. Although unlikely due to finances, Relevo says that even if he was offered, Williams would not leave before the end of the season.
Whether in England or Barcelona, Williams' loyalty to Athletic has often been understated over the past year. Winning the Copa del Rey last year, and with Ernesto Valverde getting the best of him, Williams is in no rush to leave, although it looks like teams will be tempting him again next summer.
