Wing of the Athletic Club Nico Williams will again be one of the narratives of next summer, with the Basque star likely to be the subject of great interest from Europe's best clubs. Meanwhile, Athletic will do their best to keep Williams, and try to extend his contract beyond 2026.
The 22-year-old was the subject of a lengthy pursuit from Barcelona last summer but has elected to stay in Bilbao. Sport they say he was tempted by the move, but his doubts about the club's financial situation were part of the reason he decided not to make the change.
However, in recent messages to Barcelona players, he has dropped the fact that he is still tempted by the prospect of playing for the Blaugrana. While he is happy at San Mames, at a professional level a move to Barcelona will increase his cache and give him a better discovery of the winning tophies. Inside Barcelona, they believe that there is a greater interest on the part of Williams than four months ago to make a move.
Nico Williams feels a greater desire to sign for Barca than four months ago. @tjuanmarti
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) December 9, 2024
For his part, there are still widespread reports that Barcelona want a left winger, but there are more factors to consider now. The Catalan giants spent big on Dani Olmo last summer, Raphinha has become a key player, and Robert Lewandowski looks likely to continue at the club next summer. Barcelona have put their pursuit of Williams on hold: once he was their top target, now he is an attractive option that interests them.
Williams was one of the flavors of the summer as Spain won Euro 2024, along with Barcelona star Lamine Yamal. The Basque winger recognized that he regularly exchanges messages with Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Baldeand both did their best to persuade Williams to join them. He currently has a contract until 2026, with a release clause of 58 million euros.
