Barcelona have suffered a major setback in the summer transfer window after Athletic Club officially announced that their star winger, Nico Williams, has renewed his contract with the Basque side until 2035. The decision came as a surprise, especially amid strong speculation that the young Spanish international was on the verge of moving to Catalunya. Reports had claimed that Nico had asked his agent to meet with Barcelona’s sporting director Deco to discuss terms.
It was widely believed that both parties had reached an agreement on personal terms, and that Barcelona were preparing to trigger his release clause. However, all those rumors were put to rest when Athletic Club confirmed a ten-year contract extension for the 22-year-old, along with a release clause increase of over 50%.
Athletic Club released an official statement saying: “Nico Williams renews with Athletic Club until 2035. The red-and-white winger commits to the club of his heart for the next ten seasons, and his release clause increases by more than 50%.”
In his own words, Nico said: “When decisions have to be made, for me, what weighs most is the heart. I’m where I want to be, with my people, this is my home. Aupa Athletic!”
This announcement has dealt a huge blow to Barcelona, who had identified Williams as their top summer target to strengthen their squad. With the player once again choosing to stay in Bilbao, the Catalan giants will now have to shift their focus to alternative options in the transfer market.
Source: https://www.barcablaugranes.com/
