Barcelona priority target advised to stay at current club for one more season

Nico Williams has been the absolute priority for Barcelona this summer, with the Catalan giants eager to bring in the Athletic Club and Spain winger.

Negotiations have already taken place with the winger’s agent and a contract offer has been tabled while Barça have everything ready to activate his €58 million release clause.

However, in recent days, there have been a lot of doubts surrounding the operation, with reports suggesting that Nico might end up staying at Athletic Club instead of moving to Barça.

Nico told to stay by inner circle

Now, Mundo Deportivo reports that Nico Williams has been having doubts about whether it is the right time for him to leave Athletic Club even if it would mean a move to a big club like Barcelona where he would link up with close friends like Alejandro Balde and Lamine Yamal.

Nico Williams yet to decide on his next move. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

And, the closest circle to the 22-year-old winger has advised him to continue with the Basque club for one more season before making the jump to Barcelona in 2025.

As reported earlier today, Barcelona ideally want to sign Nico right away but would be willing to bring him in next year too as long as his release clause amount has not increased by then.

However, there have been speculations that should the younger Williams brother stay at Athletic, the La Liga club plan on handing him a new contract with an increased release clause.

Such a development would jeopardise the possibility of Nico joining Barcelona next year.

For now, there is still no clear response from the UEFA Euro 2024 winner and his camp, although it appears that he might be leaning towards a continued stay at Athletic Club.