Ernesto Valverde ‘expecting’ Nico Williams back for Athletic Club training

Amid intense speculation over his future, Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde has hinted that Nico Williams might be staying at San Mames for next season. The 22-year-old winger is currently on holiday in Ibiza.

Williams went on holiday after returning to celebrate with Spain following their Euro 2024 victory. With Los Leones back in preseason already though, Valverde addressed the media, and was fairly blunt with his response.

“We are expecting him on the day he is due to return to training (on the 12th of August), he is happy with us and we are happy with him,” Valverde explained to MD.

He also spoke positively about the year coming for Athletic, which will see them return to European football, in this case the Europa League, for the first time in six years.

“We aspire to have the best players and for the players to want to be with us. It is a very exciting year for us. We have a very good team and we aspire to improve it. It is also the case with Unai, Inaki… We want to compete in all the tournaments. It has been shown that you can be one of the best by being a player for teams like Real Sociedad, Athletic… You can have a great year. It is a year in which we have many challenges ahead. I’m sure he loves what’s ahead of him, to me he looks well and happy.”

“He is a player who has a contract, we are happy with him, we are waiting for him to train on the stipulated day, without further ado.”

It was reported this week by multiple sources that his agent Felix Tainta met with Barcelona Sporting Director Deco, while others say personal terms have been settled between the two already. Chelsea and Arsenal are also interested in Williams, and both are willing to pay his €58m release clause, but the reporting in Catalonia is that he would rather stay in Spain. In the Basque Country, they remain confident of retaining Williams for at least one more year.

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