Nico Williams to Barcelona was one of the hottest transfer stories going around in world football until recently but things have gone cold in recent days. The Catalan club continues to wait as the 22-year-old ponders about his future.
For the talented Spaniard, the question is whether to stay at Athletic Bilbao for another season or leave for Barcelona this summer. We covered a story revealing that his brother Inaki Williams is trying his best to persuade the Euros 2024 star to choose the former option.
It’s still unclear as to what Nico will do in the end but the optimism surrounding his arrival to Barcelona has dissipated in the past week. Instead, it would be a welcome surprise if the winger chooses to come this summer.
Understandably, the media is trying its best to find out more about the situation, including asking current Barcelona players about the Basque forward. When Jules Kounde was asked about the 22-year-old, here is what the Frenchman had to say, as quoted by the SPORT:
“Nico Williams is a great player and has had a great European Championship. He is very young and has significant room for improvement. In the end, we all want to play with good players. Ultimately, it’s not up to me. Let’s see what the club does and if it can be done or not, but if it could be done, of course, we would be delighted.”
Through his words, although Kounde hasn’t given much away, he has hinted that he would love the opportunity to have Nico at Barcelona. Well, who wouldn’t? The Spaniard is one of the hottest prospects in Europe currently.
This narrative shift from whether Barcelona would be able to pay his release clause to whether Nico would choose the Catalan club this summer has meant that the ball is firmly in the 22-year-old’s court and all the Bluagranas can do is wait.
Hansi Flick has meanwhile gone about his business like none of this happening in the background. He has made the most out of the resources he has had, giving opportunities to La Masia youngsters like Marc Bernal, and Marc Casado.
Only time will tell if Nico Williams joins Barcelona this summer. If he comes, it would be good for the club. If not, no player is irreplaceable at this club and the Blaugranas will continue to march on with whatever is available.
