Athletic Bilbao president Jon Uriarte has hit out at the persistent questions Nico Williams has faced over his future while at Euro 2024, demanding that the constant ‘bombardment’ is brought to a halt.
Williams enjoyed an excellent season with Athletic last term, notching five goals and 11 assists in La Liga, and the winger has carried his barnstorming form into this summer’s European Championships, where his stock continues to soar.
Along with Lamine Yamal, the 21-year-old winger has brought a new dimension to Spain’s attack and his eye-catching performances have made him a top target for a host of Europe’s elite teams.
Barcelona and Arsenal have both been credited with a strong interest in Williams and recent reports emanating out of Spain claim Chelsea have approached the player’s intermediaries over a proposed switch to Stamford Bridge.
However, Williams has been keen to block out all outside noise and potential distraction, with Spain just three days out from their all-important Euro 2024 final against Gareth Southgate’s England.
‘I have told my family and my agent that I didn’t want to know anything about what comes from outside, about signings or stories,’ Williams told AS when asked for an update on his future last week.
‘They know what I am like, the personality I have, and I don’t like to know because I get distracted easily. I prefer to focus on one thing and go for it.
‘Because if one thing or another comes to me, in the end my head doesn’t work very well.
‘My agent, my parents and my family know me perfectly and they know that I don’t want to hear anything until the Euros are over.’
Asked whether he speaks English, Williams laughed and replied: ‘A little bit…’
While Athletic know they could drive a hard bargain for their prized possession, the La Liga outfit are determined to keep hold of the youngster for another season and have so far knocked back approaches from rival clubs.
In an explosive rant, Athletic president Uriarte insisted Williams was ‘committed’ to the club, while accusing the RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation) of failing to ‘protect’ the player from constant questions over his future.
Uriarte said: ‘Nico is very committed to Athletic Bilbao. He as been subjected to a bombardment of questions about his future in an excessive and uncontrolled manner while on international duty at Euro 2024.
‘The Spanish Federation does not know how to protect him.’
Uriarte underlined that Athletic were determined and more than capable of keeping hold of their key players amid interest from rival teams.
‘Respect between all the members of the football club is key, or at least that is the case at Athletic Club, which does not have as a strategy of subjecting players contracted to other clubs to public pressure in order to try to incorporate them,’ he added.
‘Athletic Bilbao aim for the maximum, without limits. We are showing that we have a winning project for footballers and coaches.
‘We have renewed the contracts of players who are playing at the European Championship, such as Unai Simon and Vivian, as well as coveted players like [Benat] Prados, Oihan [Sancet], Julen [Agirrezabala] or [Aitor] Paredes, who have also signed for several seasons.
‘Athletic Bilbao is economically, socially and sportingly capable of keeping footballers of the calibre of those named in its structure, including Nico Williams.’
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