What Álvaro Djaló’s signing means for Nico Williams’ Athletic Club future | OneFootball

Athletic Club director of football Mikel González has this afternoon provided an insight into the future of star attacker Nico Williams.

As much comes amid fresh chatter, pointing towards a potential summer exit from San Mamés for Williams.

This week, Athletic unveiled a new addition to the club’s attacking ranks, in the form of Álvaro Djaló.

The 24-year-old, currently in the midst of a fine campaign in Portugal with SC Braga, is primed to link up with Ernesto Valverde’s squad in San Sebastián in the summer.

With Djaló’s explosive talents best highlighted out wide, it has in turn been suggested in the media that his arrival could open the door to the departure of a player long tipped to bring his stint with Athletic to a close.

The player in question? Nico Williams.

Winger Williams, for his part, is understood to have been added to the transfer wishlists of the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona with a view to next season.

With his contract at San Mamés containing a release clause set at €50 million, the Premier League’s giants, in particular, would likely have little problem in meeting the financial requirements needed to strike a deal.

Speaking to the media on Sunday, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of Williams’ future, and the impact of Djaló’s arrival on it, was put to the aforementioned Mikel González.

The Athletic director, however, was adamant that the situations of the two attackers are in no way linked:

“The incorporation of Djaló has nothing to do with Nico,” González informed DAZN, as cited by Mundo Deportivo. “We renewed him until 2027, we see him super happy. He wants more and wants to play in Europe. He has nothing to do with it.”

Conor Laird | GSFN