Nico Williams returns to Bilbao, killing the momentum of a move to Barcelona
- Nico Williams returns to Bilbao from his summer vacation, casting a cloud of pessimism over any potential move to Barcelona
- Barca was viewed as the consensus front-runner to land the 21-year-old winger, but they may be forced to resume the hunt for a low-budget option.
By Rohan Borges
It seems like FC Barcelona's pursuit of Nico Williams might’ve officially come to an end, as the winger has returned to Athletic Bilbao following his lengthy summer vacation.
🚨 Nico Williams is back in Bilbao from his vacations. @JijantesFC pic.twitter.com/jzh1f1FuxB
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) August 4, 2024
Barcelona appeared on the verge of securing the signature of Spain's Euro 2024 winner, but Williams reportedly began to have second thoughts about leaving the only club he's ever known.
Williams enjoyed a standout 2023/24 campaign, tallying over 20 goals and assists combined, making it his most impressive season to date. His performances attracted interest from some of Europe’s top clubs, with offers from Liverpool and PSG reportedly on the table. However, the 21-year-old is keen on staying in Spain and considered only Barcelona as a viable alternative to Bilbao.
According to reports, Williams' hesitancy to leave Bilbao was largely influenced by his family, particularly his brother, Iñaki. The younger Williams had reportedly promised that he would delay a move to Barcelona in order to play alongside him in the Europa League, after the brothers helped lead Bilbao to their first top-five La Liga finish in nearly a decade.
While Williams remains open to a future move to Barcelona, the Catalan giants have reportedly made it clear that they won't wait until next summer to sign him. It is not in the DNA of one of the biggest clubs in the world to wait patiently in anticipation of one particular player, and Barca has conveyed the message that it's now or never. Williams' decision will ultimately lead to him staying with Bilbao, at least for the time being.
As Barcelona continues to navigate financial constraints under UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, their focus seems to have shifted away from Williams and toward RB Leipzig's Dani Olmo, as they look to bolster their squad ahead of the new season.