"We have an attractive project" - Club president on EURO 2024 breakout star pursued by Barcelona and Chelsea
Athletic Bilbao president Jon Uriarte has slammed the RFEF for not protecting Barcelona and Chelsea target Nico Williams from transfer speculations. He believes the Spaniard was bombarded by the media with questions about his club future during EURO 2024, where he has a goal and an assist in five games.
In a statement released on Thursday, Uriarte said that the club have no plans to let Williams or other top players leave this summer. He said that the RFEF should have done better in stopping the media from questioning the winger about his possible transfer:
"Nico, a player who is committed to Athletic, has been subjected to a bombardment of questions about his future in an excessive and uncontrolled manner while at the European Championships.
"The RFEF have not been able to protect him. Respect between all the actors who make up football is a fundamental basis -- or that's how we view it at Athletic -- which does not include subjecting players with contracts at one club to public pressure to join other clubs."
He added:
"There are no limits to Athletic's aspirations. We are demonstrating that we have an attractive project, a winning project for our players and our coach.
"Various other sought-after players have also committed their future to the club. Athletic are financially, socially and in sporting terms capable of keeping players of the caliber of those named in its structure, including Nico."
Apart from Barcelona and Chelsea, Nico Williams is also linked with PSG and Manchester City. Arsenal are also said to be keeping tabs on the winger, with Bayern Munich showing interest too.
Barcelona confirm interest in Chelsea target Nico Williams
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that the club are interested in signing Nico Williams. He revealed that the club are in a good financial position and could activate Williams' release clause:
"Economically speaking, we could commit to the signing of Nico Williams.
"Nico's a player I like -- I like him a lot. We are working with (new coach Hansi) Flick on possible signings. Now we have to leave (sporting director) Deco to close the operations we are working on."
Nico Williams has a reported €58 million release clause in his Athletic Bilbao contract. Chelsea and Barcelona are open to activating that clause this summer.