Barcelona Faces Backlash as Athletic Club Defends Nico Williams Amid Transfer Speculation
Barcelona’s interest in Nico Williams has raised questions about his future, much to the dismay of Athletic Club, who have now responded to the barrage of speculation.
- Williams heavily linked with a move to Barcelona
- Athletic Club fires back at questions regarding Williams’ future
- Williams is under contract until 2027
What Happened?
Nico Williams has emerged as a standout player at Euro 2024 alongside Spain teammate Lamine Yamal, attracting interest from several top clubs. Barcelona leads the pack of potential suitors, sparking intense media speculation about Williams’ future. Despite the winger reiterating his commitment to Athletic Club with a contract valid until the summer of 2027, questions about his next move persist. Athletic Club’s president, Jon Uriarte, has now addressed the media’s relentless ‘bombardment’ of inquiries, emphasizing the club’s stance. For more insights
What Uriarte Said
The statement from Athletic Club president Jon Uriarte was released on the club’s social media. It read:
“Nico, a footballer very committed to Athletic Club, has been subjected to a bombardment of questions about his future in an excessive and uncontrolled way, while he is focusing on competing in the Eurocopa for the Spanish Football Federation, which has not been able to protect him.
“Respect among all the entities that make up football is a fundamental principle, or so we conceive it at Athletic Club. We do not engage in the practice of publicly pressuring players with contracts at other clubs to try to recruit them.
“Athletic aspires to the highest achievements, without limits. We are demonstrating that we have an attractive and winning project for our footballers and coaching staff. This is evidenced by the recent renewals of our internationals Simón (until 2029) and Vivian (until 2031). Nico signed last year until 2027, and we have also secured long-term commitments from coveted players like Sancet, Prados, Julen Agirrezabala, and Paredes, to name a few.
“Athletic Club is capable economically, socially, and sportingly of retaining footballers of the caliber of those mentioned, including Nico Williams.”
For more insights, read the full article on News Site.
President Joan Laporta
Barcelona’s main targets for this summer have been identified as a left-winger and a midfielder. With President Joan Laporta already addressing the club’s interest, Nico Williams is likely the chosen player to join Hansi Flick for his debut season at the club. Laporta also mentioned that Barcelona has sorted their economic structure to facilitate the signing of Williams this summer.
What Next for Williams?
For at least another four days, Williams’ entire focus will remain on preparing for Spain’s Euro 2024 final against England at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Sunday, July 14. It will only be after that final that the soon-to-be 22-year-old will consider his club future.
