Barcelona priority target left out of current club’s squad for final pre-season friendly

After his sensational displays at Euro 2024, Nico Williams appeared open to a move to Barcelona as the next step in his career.

Several media outlets revealed that the player was open to a departure and that the Catalans, in fact, were well placed in his pursuit.

As it turns out, Nico has not made any comments on a departure nor has hinted that he is open to the same. He has returned to training with Athletic Club and appears set to start the new season with the Basque side.

Left behind in Spain

Athletic Club take on VfB Stuttgart later this week in their final pre-season friendly and are set to travel to Germany for the same.

As revealed by SPORT, however, Nico will not travel with Ernesto Valverde’s side for the clash.

While such a development is usually indicative of an imminent transfer away from the club, Athletic Club’s decision to leave the star behind has nothing to do with his future.

The player will stay in Spain as the club feel he requires rest after his long campaign with Spain at Euro 2024.

The 22-year-old will likely play his first match of the season directly in the league curtain-raiser for Athletic Club against Getafe.

Barcelona change strategy

Nico returned to training in the Basque country on Thursday but has refused to give any signs of being open to leaving the club as it stands.

The player appears happy at his former club and is likely to stay, especially given that he wishes to play in Europe alongside his brother before taking the next step in his career.

Barcelona, for their part, refuse to give up and are still optimistic that the player will accept their offer.

The Blaugrana, in fact, have transferred the responsibility of overseeing negotiations from Deco to Joan Laporta and the club president will thus directly mediate talks from here on.