La Liga coach addresses Barcelona’s interest in 22-year-old forward – ‘I think he will continue’ | OneFootball

Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde has finally addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding Nico Williams, who is once again being linked with a move to Barcelona.

The talented winger has been at the centre of transfer talks, with both Barça and Real Madrid reportedly keeping a close eye on his situation.

Valverde tried to downplay the rumours, making it clear that the club expects Williams to stay beyond this summer.

While he did not outright deny the possibility of a transfer, he emphasised how important the young winger is to Athletic’s future.

“Will he continue? I think so,” Valverde said. “We assume he will, and we want him to. You know how it is—when the season ends, the rumours start flying.

“But we’re very happy with him, and I think he’s happy with us too. Hopefully, next season will be a great one for him.”

This statement came as speculation picked up again, with Barcelona reportedly considering Williams as a key target to strengthen their attack.

Valverde admits Barcelona’s dominance in La Liga

Barcelona are once again linked with Nico Williams. (Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images)

Aside from transfer talk, Valverde also spoke about Athletic Club’s final match of the season, where they face none other than Barcelona.

They are hoping to end their campaign on a high, even though the coach acknowledged the difficulty of the task.

“We want to win, but obviously it’s difficult because Barça have been the best team in the league,” Valverde admitted.

“We know how they play. They’re also the strongest team away from home. But we’re at San Mames, and we want to end the season with a good result.”

Despite all the speculation and challenges ahead, Valverde’s message is clear that he wants Nico to stay, but he is also aware that Barcelona’s interest is real and growing.

Source: SPORT