Real Madrid Confidencial Blow to Athletic over Madrid and Nico Williams: They reveal the truth about the signing
Pedrerol assures that the white club has never been interested in the winger and that Bilbao has sold a false interest
Josep Pedrerol revealed a compelling fact on El Chiringuito: “Real Madrid has never shown interest in Nico Williams.” According to the journalist, everything related to the supposed interest from the white club is a strategy by Athletic de Bilbao to boost the sale of their star player.
Athletic, Pedrerol stated, has tried to sell the idea that Real Madrid is after Nico Williams. “This isn't a real rumor, but rather a maneuver by the Basque club to put their footballer on the market this summer,” he explained.
The move to reactivate Barça
This strategy, according to Pedrerol, mainly aims to reignite interest from FC Barcelona, a team that already showed a desire to sign the winger last summer. The player's agents and Athletic themselves agree with this intention to sell.
The Bilbao club and Nico Williams are clear that they want to finalize a transfer. After a season with ups and downs and following the Europa League fiasco, the player is seeking a change. He wants to leave San Mamés and fight for bigger titles.
Nico Williams has a good relationship with several Barça players, such as Lamine Yamal, and wants to return to the Catalan city. However, the blaugrana board isn't convinced that he is an essential signing.
The numbers weighing on Barça
His statistics, compared to those of other Barça players, aren't impressive at all. In the last season, Nico played 43 matches, scoring 10 goals and providing 7 assists. These numbers are acceptable for Athletic, but insufficient for a club with blaugrana's demands.
For example, Lamine Yamal, with 55 matches, contributed 18 goals and 22 assists, almost double the direct involvement in goals. Another reference, Raphinha has 34 goals and 25 assists in 57 matches.
Barça is looking for a winger who can rotate at the level of Yamal and Raphinha. Nico Williams, although he has a good image and marketing appeal, doesn't meet those sporting requirements.
That's why Pedrerol concluded that Barça's train for Nico Williams has already passed. Now, the Catalan club is looking at the Premier League, with names like Rashford or Luis Díaz on their radar.
Meanwhile, Nico Williams's agents keep trying to place the player in Spanish soccer. But the interest from Real Madrid, in Pedrerol's words, never existed. Athletic has only wanted to use that supposed interest to boost his sale.
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