The truth about Nico Williams and his 'no transfer' to Barça and his connection with Lamine Yamal

Nico Williams was the main protagonist of the recent transfer market for FC Barcelona. The winger was in the 'eye of the storm' throughout the summer due to the 'soap opera' linking him to the Catalan club, but after several weeks of back and forth, and when it seemed he would land in the City of Barcelona, the player decided to stay under the orders of Ernesto Valverde at the Athletic Club of Bilbao, in a conclusion that surprised both insiders and outsiders.

Now, almost seven months later, the forward has given an interview to 'France Football' in which he explained his decision to 'pass' on the Barça offer to remain at San Mamés. "Athletic is my family. The bond we have within the club is incredible. I don't think I would find this atmosphere anywhere else. At that moment, I made the decision I felt was right, and I am very happy with it," the player commented.

The winger, however, maintains a close relationship with Lamine Yamal, a star of the Catalan team. In this regard, the Navarrese confessed that "we connected from the first moment we met. We are two footballers who love to dribble. We talk a lot to give each other advice. We even went on vacation together. We get along very well."

Finally, when asked about the main influences that have shaped his playing style, Nico revealed that two former Barça players have been his references. "Ronaldinho, Neymar, Cristiano... I have looked up to all of them. They are my idols. Most great dribblers are Brazilian. They grew up with the ball at their feet, and today, the game is more robotic and more tactical," he stated.

Barça is uncertain about his signing in the summer

Looking ahead to next season, Barça's priority is to bring in a left winger to strengthen their attack, and as expected, the name of Williams continues to hover over Spotify Camp Nou. However, the sports management is no longer as certain about his signing as they were last summer and would consider that there are more suitable options for Hansi Flick's scheme.

Alternatives like Luis Díaz or Rafael Leão would be above the Bilbao player on the club's list of potential signings, where they have cooled their interest in the Navarrese due to the explosion of Raphinha and doubts about his performance after showing a less convincing level this season, scoring only 6 goals and providing 7 assists in 34 matches played.

Despite this, the player's option remains on the table for the Blaugrana, albeit with less strength than before, so the Premier League appears to be the most likely destination for the winger if he decides to leave Athletic Club at the end of the season. Teams like Chelsea and Arsenal are after him, which is why his path seems increasingly distant from the City of Barcelona.