Barcelona sporting director Deco has revealed that Athletic Club winger Nico Williams has a “strong desire” make the move to Camp Nou.
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Williams showing a “strong desire” to join Barcelona
Williams has emerged as Barça’s main target after Deco met with the player’s agent, Felix Tainta.
Barça tried to sign Nico Williams last summer, after his standout performances in Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign.
However, the deal fell through due to a lack of assurances regarding his LaLiga registration.
Williams currently has a release clause of around €58 million ($66.7m).
“We need to strengthen in this position,” Deco told Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia.
“As wingers, we only really have Lamine [Yamal] and Raphinha. From there, there are names coming out and it will come down to price and quality.”
“Nico was there last year but for me, at that time, Dani Olmo was the priority. Now. the same as with other players, Nico is showing a strong desire to come … And if the right conditions are met in his case, we’ll definitely try to complete the deal.
“There’s a process with any signing: speaking with agents, clubs, knowing the contractual situation … Nico’s case it clear because he has a release clause. We’ve met with his agent to see what he wants and we will see if it’s possible.”
Williams already facing backlash
Meanwhile, Athletic Club condemned fans who erased Williams from a players’ mural.
The club said that those who “disrespect one of our own” have no place in the club’s family amid talk of his possible move to Barça.
“The dignity of a club is the dignity of the people who make it up and is measured by their capacity to behave in a coherent way with their own values, without falling into provocations or lowering themselves, and always holding their heads high,” the club said in a statement on Sunday.
“The dignity of a club is also reflected in the way it protects its own people. That is why those who have erased Nico’s image from artist Carlos Lopez’s mural in Barakaldo do not represent Athletic.”
“And if they think they are part of this family, they should know that they are wrong: to disrespect one of our own is to disrespect Athletic itself.”
The mural, created by artist Carlos López, originally featured Williams alongside his brother Iñaki, who also plays for Athletic Club.
The club has contacted Lopez to help restore the Spain international to his rightful place in the artwork.
