Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde has taken a calm and composed stance amid increasing speculation surrounding Nico Williams’ future, making it clear he believes the talented winger is going nowhere—for now.
“We’re very happy with him, and I think he’s happy with us too. I believe he’ll stay with us,” Valverde said, striking a reassuring tone in his latest press conference.
His words come as both Barcelona and Real Madrid weigh potential summer bids for the 21-year-old, whose €58 million release clause presents a tempting opportunity for top clubs seeking elite wing talent.
Barcelona, in particular, are known to be prioritizing a new left winger to complement Lamine Yamal on the right. Alongside Nico, Luis Díaz and Marcus Rashford remain on their radar — though both carry higher price tags and more complex financial demands. Nico’s clause, by contrast, offers a relatively straightforward path — if the player decides to leave and the buying club can manage the fee.
But Valverde’s remarks suggest Athletic aren’t feeling the pressure. With Nico under contract through 2027 and seemingly content in Bilbao, the club is in a strong position to resist approaches unless the release clause is triggered outright.
As for the final game of the season — fittingly against Barcelona — Valverde acknowledged the scale of the challenge but hinted at a motivated, competitive performance, regardless of transfer noise swirling around his star winger.
For now, the ball appears to be in Barcelona’s court — and in Nico’s heart.
