Nico Williams’ situation has taken a surprising turn, leaving Barcelona puzzled by what they see as a betrayal. The young forward, who had been on their radar last summer, now finds himself in a much different position. Barcelona’s enthusiasm for signing him has waned significantly, yet Williams remains determined to leave Athletic Bilbao in search of opportunities at a top-tier club, whether it be Barcelona or another prominent team.
According to his agent, Félix Tainta, Barcelona’s executives are no longer as interested in Williams as they once were. This decline in interest stems from two key reasons. Firstly, the rise of players like Lamine Yamal and Raphinha at Barcelona, both of whom excel in positions similar to Williams, has made his potential addition less critical. Secondly, Williams’ recent performances at Athletic Bilbao have been underwhelming, with his statistics falling short when compared to those of Yamal and Raphinha.
So far this season, Williams has played 15 LaLiga matches, scoring just one goal and providing three assists. In contrast, Lamine Yamal has delivered five goals and nine assists, while Raphinha has contributed an impressive 11 goals and six assists. This puts Williams well behind, with Yamal outperforming him by four goals and six assists, and Raphinha surpassing him by ten goals and three assists.
Barcelona’s cooling interest isn’t solely due to Williams’ performance. The club is also exploring other options in the transfer market that are both more cost-effective and potentially more impactful. One such candidate is Ademola Lookman from Atalanta. Lookman has impressed with his stats, notably in a recent match against Real Madrid, and offers a stronger attacking output at a much lower transfer fee and salary compared to Williams.
Additionally, Bayern Munich’s coach, Hansi Flick, has reportedly stated that the arrival of Dani Olmo at the club makes Williams an unnecessary acquisition for Bayern as well.
Realizing the slim chances of joining Barcelona, Williams has instructed his agent to seek opportunities with other ambitious clubs. Despite this, he has remained steadfast in his refusal to renew his contract with Athletic Bilbao, aiming to keep his release clause set at €60 million. His agent has been actively marketing him to other teams, including Real Madrid, who were reportedly surprised by the offer. However, Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti is currently prioritizing reducing the squad size and isn’t looking to bring in additional forwards at this time.
At Barcelona, officials were caught off guard by Williams’ actions but understand that, given the circumstances, he is now looking for opportunities elsewhere. Williams, it seems, is determined to carve out a path for himself away from Athletic Bilbao, even if it means leaving behind his initial aspirations of joining Barcelona.
