What we can already say about Nico Williams

Now that Nico Williams has decided to renew with AthleticWe can now say what we think without being told we want to add insult to injury. Now that the Basque club, which has become an enemy in the offices of Joan Laporta's Barça, has secured an even more lucrative sale should the Navarrese winger continue to progress, we can now express the uncertainties the player has left us with without fear of being accused of wanting to harm the club and those who run it.

Indeed, there were several reasons to doubt the advisability of bringing Williams into the Barça dressing room. Deco, both in favor of strengthening the squad with Luis Díaz, a more complete and experienced winger than the Athletic Club striker, who will now be just 23. Despite Lewandowski's advanced age, rejuvenating the forward line was not the coach and sporting director's first priority. However, when Williams' offer arrived, they welcomed it, as did Laporta, who in just two days went from being angry about the 2024 decision to moving heaven and earth to secure a signing that would have further strengthened his overwhelming popularity.

Since the president's thumbs-up, all the loudspeakers have played the same heavenly music about a footballer who scored only five goals in La Liga last season. With Barça outside the 1:1 rule due to a financial hole that was only repaired by dint of lever and sales in extremisThey wanted to pay more than 60 million for a player who wasn't the coaches' first choice.

After Williams legitimately requested written protection in case he wasn't registered and ultimately ended up renewing with Athletic Club, suddenly the entire fan base eager to see him in Barcelona has turned to reproaching the player for not trusting the superpowers of a Laporta who always published reasonable doubts about the deal. Before that, when it was said that the clause would be paid on July 1, Williams was little less than the signing of the century.