In the last summer transfer window, FC Barcelona had a very clear top transfer target, the Athletic Club winger Nico Williams. The Spanish forward was very strongly linked with the Blaugranes, but, ultimately, he did not arrive at the Catalan club as he decided to stay at the Basque club.
Several factors have been identified that led to the failure of Barcelona to land this target, but perhaps the most important of these was the Catalan club’s financial instability. But for now, the winger has promised Bilbao fans only one more season of football, and there are rumors that Barcelona will once again try to sign him next year.
As SPORT has reported, Nico recently appeared in an interview with the Spanish publication Diario AS, in which he was asked whether he will stay at Athletic Club beyond the 2024-25 season. However, the winger did not give a clear response to this question:
“I’m happy in Bilbao; I’ve decided to stay here. It’s amazing to see the atmosphere created during the Europa League match against AZ.”
While there are many doubts about whether the €70 million-rated winger will don a Barcelona shirt in his career, there are no doubts about his good relationship with Lamine Yamal, and this was quite clear from one of his responses in this interview when he was asked about Yamal:
“Every father is eager to see his son! (Laughs) We get along very well, we’re like cats and dogs, like little brothers. I wish him all the best. I’m happier in the national team when he’s around.”
This response about his future at Athletic Club will certainly raise some hopes among Barcelona fans, as he has once again not shown any commitment to continue at the Basque side beyond this season. Still, it remains to be seen how his future will pan out, and which side he will be playing for in 2025-26.