In autumn of 2023, months after the Nico Williams contract for Athletic, his future was on everyone's lips. Everyone, except from the player, who did not lavish in the media, much less to talk about his future. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern and several Premier clubs appeared as possible destinations of Athletic Pamplonica, which could also leave the rojiblanco club for free in June 2024.
Play with Iñaki and Athletic loyalty
On November 14, 2023 Nico Williams broke his silence and He sat down to talk with the newspaper About his brilliant present, after exploiting in the selection of Luis de la Fuente, and his future plans. A couple of months ago, at the beginning of September, which had met Lamine Yamal, whom Alejandro Balde had presented it to the first concentration of Barca with the absolute. After dinner in the city of Las Rozas football with the rest of international, Nico sat down to talk with this medium to make his intentions clear and avoid the uncomfortable rumors that circulated in Bilbao. “In the Athletic wardrobe we talk about Europe. We have the ambition to achieve that Grand Prix that is to play the Europa League or the Champions League, because we do not put a roof, and we want to be up there.”
Nico prioritized two things, the first “play in Europe with Athletic with my brother.” The second was for the rojiblanco club to benefit from a hypothetical departure, toLgo that would not happen if he left on June 30, because his contract expired and was free. So its agents negotiated a renovation that would take an accessible termination clause for large equipment, but beneficial for the Ibaigane club. “What big teams like Barça, Madrid or England clubs are pending of me means that I am doing my job well. I have clear the decision I want to make, but in the end this is something my representatives carrywho have been with me since I was 11 years old. And there are my parents, my brother … it will be seen, but I am very calm and I want sure like this, ”he said in the conversation with the newspaper.
There was another aspect that complicated Nico Williams's departure from Athletic, andThe player shared costumes with his brother Iñaki in San Mamés and wanted to measure the times well not to leave him in an awkward situation before the club and the fans. In this regard, I warned that “it will be everyone's decision, it's not just me. There is also my family, there are my friends, my representatives … It is not just a matter of Nico because in the end the family for me is very important and has a decisive role in this decision.” December 1, two weeks after the interview, The Athletic made Public the renewal of Nico for three seasons, until June 2027, with a 60 million euros clause. Amount perfectly assumable by the great clubs in the market. What did not close the door to rumors about its possible exit that same summer.
Germany, Lamine and the rumors
Nico completed a great season in the National Team and Athletic, which he classified for the Europa League, exploiting that summer of 2024 by leading Lamine to a Spain that was proclaimed in France champion of the Eurocup. Nico marked in the final, where he was also appointed best player against England. During the 40 days of coexistence in Germany he strengthened his friendship with Lamine, who became his little brother, his “bro”. In addition to being the two most unbalanced players for the bands, Nico maintained with him a relationship similar to what Iñaki exercised with him. He advised, protected and had fun with that of Rocafonda, forming the most fun and with more self -confidence in the concentration in Donaueschinguen. The good harmony of both operated a beneficial effect on the football of the two and a growth that unleashed a campaign of rumors and false information in Barcelona about its signing for the Barça of which the player shielded.
“I don't like noise. I don't like people to speak lies, that rumors are generated that are not true. People speak a lot and that bothers me, ”said Nico to this medium in Germany during the concentration of the Eurocup. It was published that he had signed a pre -contract with Barcelona, when the youngest of the Williams and his agent patiently rejected Joan Laporta's calls To sit down to negotiate, something that President Culé did not like. “The Barça train once in life,” the Barca leader argued.
Nico was never close to signing for Barça and Lamine, who knew that the decision to play in Eurocup with Athletic with Iñaki was firm, made no attempt to convince him. Something that Nico valued greatly. At that time, The idea of rojiblanco was playing that year in San Mamés, To try to take Athletic to the Europa League final in Bilbao, And then go to the Premier leaving money in the Athletic coffers in appreciation. Nico had seen how his brother Iñaki renounced to go to the Premier, from where Guardiola tempted him with an attractive offer, and he wanted to try in a football that has always attracted him a lot. In addition, there was something that kept fluttering in the head of Nico: I didn't want to face Athletic with the shirt of another Spanish club in the League. It had been a complicated year with many rumors and he wanted to demonstrate to the fans of the 'lions' his loyalty to the club and the thanks for the opportunity that the club gave to the Williams to make a career in football. And so it was. As much as the media reported meetings that did not exist or contracts that were never signed, Nico remained firm and Lamine was the first to know the situation.
Athletic played in Europe, reaching the semifinals of the Europa League and staying one step away from the San Mamés final. AND Nico and Lamine were further narrowing their relationship in the selection. The two saw the faces in the windows of September, October, November and March. But the contact between the two became Diario and Yamal began to 'seduce' Nico with the idea of playing together in Barça.
Lamine seduces in Nico
With the passing of the months Nico has changed the idea of playing in the Premier for doing so with Lamine, with whom he has a football chemistry that has continued giving successes to the selection. Yamal has spoken to Nico very well about Flick, his offensive football style and his closeness. And even the German coach has made some wink CAs they have faced Athletic and Barça. The tension in Bilbao around Nico has become love and gratitude to the end, which has thrown the team this season taking a step forward.
And that has caused Nico to have asked his agent to meet to probe the possibility of signing for Barça. The youngest of the Williams knows, because Lamine has confirmed it, that Flick is excited about the idea of his signing. And even Laporta has forgotten the reset for not having wanted to go the previous summer. Deco is the only one who prefers the arrival of a Luis Díaz whose price shoots. Nico Williams has demonstrated his loyalty to Athletic fulfilling the word he gave to the club, from which he will leave by leaving money in the coffers instead of leaving free as he could do last year. But now, at 22, The body asks you to fulfill the dream you share with Lamine: play together and win many titles with this “brother that football has given me.”
Subscribe to continue reading