- 12 hours ago
Nico Williams transfer still possible! Barcelona believe in deal after video ‘HOAX’
Robin Bairner
- 8 Aug 2024 07:07 BST
- 4 min read
Nico Williams can still become a Barcelona player this summer, the Camp Nou club believes.
A deal to sign RB Leipzig’s Dani Olmo does not mean Barca’s hopes of landing the Spain Euro 2024 star will be shelved for a year, according to a report from Esport3.
Despite having a release fee of set at a tempting €58 million, the 22-year-old appears to have settled for another season at Athletic Club, despite strong interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, PSG and, of course, Barcelona.
READ MORE: Nico Williams rejected INCREDIBLE offer
Current ETV
Nico Williams
M (L)
Athletic
Nico Williams
M (L)
Athletic
ETV Range
€37.2M - €62M
But Hansi Flick’s side are far from convinced that Nico Williams’ stance is definitive and still hope to land him before the summer transfer window shuts.
“The signing of Dani Olmo does not close the door of Barca to Nico Williams,” Esport3 claims.
READ MORE: How Barcelona will line up with Dani Olmo
Nico Williams tricked into viral video
This is despite the player seen greeting Athletic fans on a video released by club social media on Tuesday – a situation that Barcelona believe was set up by their LaLiga rivals in order to quell transfer rumours. The Blaugrana are even said to consider the video a “hoax” designed to trick Athletic fans into believing a transfer is totally discounted.
According to the Catalans, this is not the case.
👋🏿 Ongi etorri etxera, @willliamsssnico‼️
Nico Williams ya está en Lezama ❤️#AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/jkljokSq86— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) August 6, 2024
“According to Barcelona theory, the Pamplona striker was forced to record this video which was later spread on social networks,” the report claims.
“If nothing else, it has been the result of the insistence of those around him.”
Nico Williams does find himself under pressure to stay with Athletic, with his brother Inaki reportedly eager to play European football with him, particularly with the Europa League final slated to play at San Mames.
But Nico’s family and Athletic head coach Ernesto Valverde are all pushing for the winger to stay in Bilbao, where he is under contract until 2027, was one season longer.
