Latest news with #NicoWilliams
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mercato: Iñaki Williams slams Barça while defending his brother Nico
Iñaki Williams and Nico Iñaki Williams, the older brother of Nico Williams, opened up to the press in recent hours. The Ghana international didn't hold back when it came to FC Barcelona. Initially rumored to be on the verge of joining FC Barcelona at the start of the summer transfer window, Nico Williams ultimately extended his contract with Bilbao until 2035. This news brought a smile to his brother Iñaki's face. The Ghanaian was asked about the situation during a press conference. "On a family level, it's been a bit complicated because there's been a lot of talk about my brother, and much of what has been said about Nico is false. He simply kept silent. Everyone has the right to think about their future. This summer, people have often been unfair to my brother (…) My brother's decision was not easy. His maturity is incredible. He had a wide range of options and he chose Athletic Bilbao. The club is making considerable progress. We have one of the best squads since I was twelve and joined the first team. He had a choice because he received many offers and a lot of clubs made bids for him. He's a top-level player (…) Many clubs made offers for him because he's a high-caliber player and his release clause could have been easily triggered. He was a gift from the heavens for the big clubs. It wasn't easy, because all the external noise could have made him hesitate, but he made the best decision. My brother was quite clear about his decision, but a long-term contract had to be established. Some events happened that caused a lot of harm, like the vandalism of the mural, the breaking of a car window… He made his decision with heart and ambition. He decided to stay with us and leave his legacy here, just like Julen Guerrero did in his time, and to be a role model for his desire to make his mark here.", he explained. The Black Star continued, not sparing Barça, though he never mentioned them by name: "We all know how the football world works and the pressure they wanted to put on all Athletic supporters, on my brother… A media campaign that they probably thought would benefit them. At Athletic, when we want a player, we do it quietly. All this outside noise did a lot of damage and muddied the waters. Because a lot of what was said and leaked to the media or on social networks was false. My brother had made his decision, but a very long contract tying him until 2035 had to be finalized. It couldn't be made public overnight. Some incidents tarnished Athletic's objectives, like the two times the mural was vandalized, or when they went to my brother's place and smashed a car window… Things that are often unknown but weigh on the player and his decisions. It's very easy not to say or do anything when you're sitting on your couch, but when you're suffering personally, it's different. Seeing my brother suffer as Athletic's captain is not easy. Many teams wanted him when he was just 22. He stayed discreet, and I had to stop him several times because I saw things he didn't like. We had lots of calls and video conferences during that period. People at Athletic must understand that it's not easy to make a life-changing decision in such a short time. The decision was his alone. When he steps onto the pitch at San Mamés, he will receive immense affection."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool to Open Talks Over £70m Deal for Forward
Bayern Munich Intensify Pursuit of Luis Diaz as Liverpool Stand Firm Bayern Munich have re-engaged with Liverpool over the potential signing of Luis Diaz, as reported by The Athletic. Having seen an earlier offer of €67.5million (£58.6m) rejected, the German champions are now in continued discussions with the Merseyside club, signalling their ongoing desire to land the Colombian international. Although no second bid has been tabled yet, Bayern's interest is far from waning. According to The Athletic, Diaz 'has made it clear that he wants to leave the Anfield club', a stance that will no doubt add pressure to Liverpool's hierarchy during the latter part of the transfer window. Diaz remains under contract until the summer of 2027 and continues to train with the squad, currently on tour in Hong Kong. However, his absence from recent pre-season fixtures against Preston North End and Stoke City raises questions over his short-term future. Photo by IMAGO Bayern's Summer Search for a Forward Bayern's pursuit of attacking reinforcements this summer has been well documented. Their failed attempts to sign Florian Wirtz and Nico Williams, both of whom opted for Liverpool and Athletic Club respectively, have intensified their search for a wide forward. Diaz has emerged as a primary target due to his flexibility across the front line. Bayern view him as a dynamic option who brings creativity, directness and an aggressive attacking profile. His output since joining Liverpool supports that view: 41 goals and 23 assists in 148 appearances is a strong return for a player often asked to perform various tactical roles. Luis Diaz's Rise at Liverpool Signed from Porto in January 2022 for an initial £37.5m fee (rising to £50m with add-ons), Diaz quickly established himself as a fan favourite. His aggressive style and fearless ball-carrying suited the high-intensity demands at Anfield. Over the last three seasons, his contribution has grown, culminating in a key role during Arne Slot's remarkable debut campaign that saw Liverpool reclaim the Premier League title. Diaz's 13 goals in 36 league appearances last season were critical in Liverpool's run-in. His ability to carry the ball through tight spaces and apply pressure off the ball aligned perfectly with Slot's evolving tactical approach. Liverpool's Response Remains Resolute Despite Diaz's desire to leave, Liverpool are under no financial or contractual pressure to sell. With his deal running until 2027 and Slot known to value his tactical flexibility, any potential exit would need to represent significant value. Whether Bayern's next bid will meet that threshold remains to be seen, but regular dialogue between the clubs suggests a deal is far from dead. The next fortnight could be decisive, particularly as Liverpool begin their preparations for the Community Shield and the start of the new Premier League campaign. Our View – EPL Index Analysis This report from The Athletic will leave many uneasy. Luis Diaz has not only improved season by season, but under Arne Slot he has flourished into one of the side's most dependable performers. With 13 league goals and a reputation for turning up in big moments, he played a massive role in returning the title to Anfield. Fans may be surprised at the clarity of Diaz's intention to leave. If those reports are accurate, it begs the question: why now, after a title-winning season and with Champions League football ahead? There's also the concern about replacing Diaz. Liverpool have talent in abundance, with the likes of Darwin Núñez, Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa all capable of filling in, but none possess Diaz's unique ability to shift momentum in a game single-handedly. Slot's system values positional interchange and pressing intensity. Losing a player like Diaz would affect the left-sided balance of the team. While Bayern's offer may rise, many fans would hope Liverpool hold firm or secure a replacement of similar calibre before sanctioning any sale. This feels like a potential sliding doors moment. If Diaz departs, it must be on Liverpool's terms, not as a reactive decision driven by player pressure.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona president Joan Laporta reacts to Marcus Rashford signing
Earlier this week, Barcelona completed the signing of Marcus Rashford on a season-long loan from Manchester United. The 27-year-old is the club's left winger addition, which was one of the priorities for this summer's transfer window. The search for a new left winger was not easy for Barcelona, largely due to their financial problems. They had looked destined to finally complete a deal for Nico Williams, but in a 24-hour period, he went from agreeing terms with the Catalans to signing a new 10-year contract with Athletic Club. Image viaLaporta opens up on Marcus Rashford deal As per MD, Barcelona president Joan Laporta spoke on Rashford, who can be bought next summer as per a buy clause in the agreement with Man United. 'We are very happy because a player of great quality is coming, at a great age to come to Barça with extraordinary motivation. Personally, I've seen how excited he is to come to Barça. One of his virtues is that he is sincere. His dream was to play for Man United for the rest of his life. He arrived at the age of seven and was born there with an interesting life. He wanted to be a 'One club man'. It's nice for a player to say this with all the sincerity. 'But when a situation arises in his life that he did not expect, the team he had always liked is Barça. He had faced us and had Barça on the radar. He was loaned to Aston Villa so that it could be seen that he is the best player ever, the best in England and he says that his maximum motivation is to win the Champions League with Barça and the World Cup with England. We have him very motivated. He came in strong as a rock, he's very excited, he's entered well with his teammates and I'm very happy because two years ago he beat us in the Europa League. He made the difference in the tie and that's why I'm very happy that he came.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nico Williams rejects Barcelona to sign contract renewal with Athletic Club
Barcelona have missed out on Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, who has decided to turn down a move to the Catalan capital for the second summer in a row. The Basque winger has committed his future to Athletic Club with a new long-term deal. Williams was being pursued by Barcelona, who were willing to pay his €58m release clause this summer. That was after Williams communicated to the Blaugrana that he was willing to make the move, but Barcelona could not provide guarantees that he would be registered. Image via Sebastian Widmann – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images New contract with Athletic Club As per multiple reports, Williams will commit his future to Athletic Club for the next decade, signing a deal until 2035. It had been rumoured that Athletic were attempting to renew his deal, but with Bayern Munich and Barcelona both pursuing him, many expected the 22-year-old to make a move this summer. Mural announcement The new Athletic contract was announced by the club on social media, in front of a mural of him and his brother Inaki Williams, the new captain of the side as of this summer. The mural had been defaced by angry Athletic fans, before the club commissioned the artist to restore it. A restoration that looks especially good now for Athleticzales. The video was accompanied by these words from Williams. 'When it comes to making decisions, for me what weighs heaviest is my heart. I'm where I want to be, with my family. This is my home. Aupa Athletic!' Athletic Club retain their star man Williams has not only signed a new deal with a wage rise, but has also significantly increased his release clause. It will be over around €87m, and while previously his €58m release clause was seen as relatively affordable for Europe's top clubs, the Spain international now enters a different realm in terms of price. It is another strong show of Athletic's pull for their players, who feel a connection that goes far beyond the usual relationship between footballers and their employers. It looks as if San Mames can enjoy the Williams brothers for some time yet, and Nico will have the chance to compete in the Champions League for the first time next season. The good times keep on coming in Bilbao.
New York Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Barcelona and Marcus Rashford: How we got here and why it makes sense
When the summer began, Barcelona knew they had to strengthen in attack. At that point, Athletic Club winger Nico Williams was not being considered, after a failed prospective move for him last year. Barca assumed their chance had passed. In sporting director Deco's mind, Liverpool's Luis Diaz and Marcus Rashford of Manchester United were the two candidates. Deco preferred Diaz, but financially, that deal was difficult to pull off. Then Williams offered himself to the club, actively showing interest in playing for Barcelona, and plans changed. Deco reopened the club's doors to the Spain international, who turned 23 this month. However, when they were convinced that Williams' signing was a matter of days away, on July 4, a video appeared on Athletic's social media confirming three things: he was staying in Bilbao, he was renewing his contract there for another 10 years and, once again, he had stood up Barcelona. With that, the club closed the door definitively on the transfer and went back to considering other options. Diaz remained Deco's first choice — the Colombia winger was the player he liked the most. But Spanish champions Barca cannot yet employ La Liga's 1:1 rule — whereby they can spend a euro for every euro they raise — although club sources, speaking anonymously to protect their roles, claim they are very close to achieving it. Financial constraints mean Barcelona have to work with what they can do rather than what they want to do. And there was one player who ticked all the boxes in those circumstances: Rashford. The 27-year-old England international has signed for the club on a season-long loan with the idea of playing on the left wing, although he can operate in any position up front. His signing was necessary for several reasons. One was that the coaching staff wanted more options in attack. Last season, the starting front line of Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha proved very fruitful for the team. Barca were the highest-scoring team in La Liga, with 102 goals. Real Madrid were a distant second with 78. Lewandowski scored 27 and was just four short of equalling Spain's top scorer, Kylian Mbappe of Madrid. Raphinha got 18 and Yamal nine. Advertisement That first-choice forward line was clear and unshakeable, but the problem came when injuries and late season fatigue set in. Head coach Hansi Flick and his assistants felt they needed greater depth. They did not have enough confidence in Ansu Fati, who left on loan to Monaco a few weeks ago, or last summer's signing Pau Victor, and when the final stretch of 2024-25 arrived and Lewandowski was out for 17 days with a hamstring injury, Raphinha, Yamal and Ferran Torres were the only players relied on. Flick also preferred to use Raphinha in a central role and, although the Brazilian began as a left-winger, he ended up playing more in the middle than out wide. To take advantage of this profile, and bearing in mind that Torres is seen as a centre-forward to compete with Lewandowski, who turns 37 next month, allowing the Pole to be rested for some matches, Flick wanted to bring in a winger with more pace on the left. In fact, when it looked like Williams was going to sign, the way voices at Barca envisaged him fitting into their system was to drop Raphinha back to play almost as an attacking midfielder. With Rashford arriving instead, Flick has the option of doing that or allowing him to miss the occasional game. They wanted someone to fill that need, and after interest in and moves for Diaz and Williams came to nothing, Rashford emerged as the most feasible option. Deco tried to buy Diaz, but it was not a viable option, no matter how much they wanted him. Barcelona just could not afford him — he had a high salary and other financial aspects affecting registrations complicated the operation. The club are trying to save wherever they can to get back to a normal situation in terms of signing players this summer. Diaz and Williams would have been permanent signings and not loans, with the amortisation of their transfer fees (the transfer fee divided by the years of a player's contract) included in La Liga's salary cap. This is not the case with Rashford, who arrives without the need for a fee — although his registration is not guaranteed. The club are still operating above their league-imposed salary limit, meaning they cannot register any of their new signings (Rashford, goalkeepers Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny and the young winger Roony Bardghji) as things stand. They must make room in their wage budget by moving out high-earning players or finding significant new revenue streams. Even so, Rashford was financially viable, much cheaper than Barca's other targets, could play as a winger, and Flick liked him. Another key point was the player's desire for the move. He was desperate to play for Barcelona and, after learning of Williams' decision, made this known to the club. He was coming from a difficult personal situation at United, where he had been left without a shirt number for the coming season in a clear invitation to leave, and was enthused by the idea of becoming a Barca player. Rashford wanted to come despite knowing he may have to wait until the last minute of the summer window to actually be registered, as happened to Victor and Dani Olmo when they were signed this time a year ago. This, combined with their experiences with Williams and the contract clauses he requested to cover him in the event that he could not be registered after signing, added points in the Englishman's favour. Rashford is not the player Barcelona would have gone for under normal circumstances, but he is one who more or less fits the bill. He was not their first choice, but he suits the club's current financial situation.
