Transfer off?: Athletic Club hand No. 10 shirt to Barcelona target Nico Williams

Even as the transfer tug-of-war continues between Barcelona and Athletic Club for Nico Williams, the Basque club have dropped a huge hint that the winger will not be leaving this summer.

Reports have been going back and forth over whether Nico will join Barcelona or stay with Athletic for one more season.

Last night, it was suggested that the Spanish international had informed Barça that he wishes to sign for them and that a move was still very much on the table.

However, Athletic Club have now come out and made a clear statement that they wish to retain the UEFA Euro 2024 winner by handing him the No. 10 shirt ahead of the 2024/25 season.

The unveiling of the shirt number was shown in a video, published by Athletic on social media, in which Nico passes the baton of ’11’, his previous number, to Álvaro Djaló and stamps the ’10’ on his new shirt.

🤜🏿🤛🏿 @willliamsssnico y @AlvaroDjalo al mando en el cambio de dorsales. #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/4zR0IxIWJM

— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) August 12, 2024

The Basque club want Nico to be their top player, the star of the team and are leaving no stone unturned in their effort to convince him to stay put.

In Bilbao, they are convinced that he will stay and they want him to be lynchpin of the team for the new season which is why he has been given the No. 10 shirt, upgrading from the No. 11 he wore last season.

“I asked Muniain for the number 10. I’m proud to wear this number and make history at the club like he did,” Nico said after taking the new shirt number.

It is a strong indicator that a move to Barcelona might no longer be on and that the Catalans must consider making alternative plans.