FC Barcelona have targeted the signing of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams according to the … [+]
FC Barcelona are serious about signing Athletic Club winger Nico Williams in 2024, and have already contacted his agent to sound out a potential move according to SPORT.
The younger brother of Inaki Williams has been on the Bilbao outfit’s books since 2013, joining them when he was around 11 and turning professional at San Mames.
In 2021, he made his debut for the senior team currently managed by ex-Barca boss Ernesto Valverde, with his maiden Spain cap forthcoming in the following year.
Fast forward to 2024, however, and Nico becomes a free agent. His contract situation has a number of top European clubs on alert, with Aston Villa in the Premier League one of the most interested in acquiring his services.
Athletic Club are obviously more aware than anyone that they can lose their academy product for free, and know of Barca’s interest too.
They want to make him one of their biggest stars over the rest of he decade, and have offered him a renewal of three seasons that he is still yet to take.
In the meantime, Barca have already contracted Nico Williams’ representative Felix Tainta to see how possible it is to have him don Blaugrana.
On international duty recently, Nico Williams became close to Lamine Yamal, who he assisted so that the 16-year-old could make history as Spain’s youngest-ever scorer against Georgia, and is already good friends with Lamine’s fellow La Masia graduates Alejandro Balde and Gavi.
This time next year, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal could be flying down each wing at the Montjuic Stadium. Like the teenager, 21-year-old Nico Williams also stands out for his dribbling skills yet also boasts devastating pace like his brother Inaki.
SPORT believe that Nico Williams would contribute a lot to Xavi’s team in attack, and that his decision making and participation in the goals of the sides he plays for, whether on a domestic or international front, has increased tremendously.
With the club’s financial predicament what it is, picking Nico up for free would be a major coup in the summer transfer window and see the Blaugrana getting one over on their continental rivals.
