Nico Williams has attracted attention from interested clubs such as Liverpool and Barcelona, with his current side Athletic Bilbao left outraged over a lack of protection from the Spanish FA
The Spanish FA (RFEF) have been blasted by Athletic Bilbao president Jon Uriarte over their treatment of Nico Williams.
Williams has starred for Spain at Euro 2024, starting all but one game in their run to the final. He also scored once and provided the assist for another goal to lead La Roja to a win over Georgia in the Last 16.
His impressive performances for his national team come after a season in which he played a starring role for Bilbao. The winger scored five goals and notched 19 assists in all competitions.
That helped them to finish fifth in La Liga and win the Copa del Rey, their first major title since 1984. His displays for club and country have caught the eye of Liverpool and Barcelona, with both sides eyeing moves for him.
Questions over his future have dominated his media appearances at this summer’s tournament. And Uriarte has been left furious at what he percieves to be a lack of protection for the 21-year-old.
“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,” Uriarte said in a statement.
“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.”
“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. The proof of that is that we have renewed the contracts of two of our internationals, Unai Simón (2029) and Dani Vivian (2032).
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“Nico signed a new deal last year until 2027. 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.”
As Uriarte stated, Williams signed a new contract in December, to extend his stay for another three years. But the RFEF have hit back at Uriarte’s suggestions that they have not done enough to protect him.
A statement read: “RFEF has treated Nico Williams in the same way we have treated the other 25 players who travelled to Germany. The impact that any of his words might have had is totally related to his performances and the great level he’s shown, and not to RFEF treating him differently.”
The row comes as Williams and Spain prepare for Sunday’s Euro 2024 final against England. Williams is expected to start, with La Roja looking to win their first major international trophy since Euro 2012.
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