Real Madrid Confidencial K.O. for Real Madrid-Athletic: He Has Been Injured and Won't Play the Bernabéu Match
The footballer will be one of the major absences in this clash on matchday 32 of LaLiga
One of the footballers who was expected to be the star of the match between Real Madrid and Athletic Club de Bilbao, from the Basque sports discipline, was Nico Williams. The '10' of the Bilbao squad has become one of the most important players in Ernesto Valverde's scheme to the point of attracting the attention of multiple teams.
The 'race' that Real Madrid and FC Barcelona themselves have experienced to secure his services, albeit in different summers, has not affected Nico Williams's commitment. Determined to make history with Athletic Club, the Spanish winger renewed for several years and remains footballistically and emotionally tied to the new San Mamés. A match to show his excellent qualities was the visit to Santiago Bernabéu.
It won't be possible because he is injured. This news, known late yesterday afternoon, means the departure of an essential player for Athletic Club de Bilbao's possibilities at the merengue stronghold. The pubalgia that Nico Williams suffers from sidelines him from the team at the worst possible competitive moment, given the open fronts that the club from northern Spain has.
In LaLiga, they have completely secured the fourth position, occupying one of the desired Europa League spots for the next season. But the pressure from the teams classified below, like Villarreal or Real Betis, encourages them to keep adding points to not fall definitively from that fourth place. Likewise, their progress in the current Europa League fills the 'lions' fans with excitement: the final of that continental competition is played at the new San Mamés.
Notable Absence
After the tremendous effort that Athletic Club made to qualify for the semifinals, against the Scottish Rangers, Nico Williams gets injured. This pubalgia, announced this very Saturday, means that the '10' of Athletic Club de Bilbao will miss, at least, the match against Real Madrid on Sunday, April 20. Also, his participation in the match against Las Palmas, at San Mamés, on the upcoming Wednesday, April 23, would be in jeopardy.
The absence of Nico Williams from this match at Santiago Bernabéu not only significantly alters the tactical plans of Athletic Club de Bilbao. It also affects the roadmap of the scouts led by Juni Calafat, who had planned to make a discreet follow-up of the Basque left winger... amid the debates about the signings needed for the merengue forward line due to the elimination against Arsenal in the Champions League.
His possible signing has 'cooled down' over time and with the saga led by FC Barcelona almost a year ago, but they haven't lost sight of him. His contracting conditions are acceptable in the Valdebebas offices, thanks to his current release clause, and he could have a fantastic fit in the first team... if one of the rumored departures of the Brazilian wingers occurs.
The future of Rodrygo Goes and Vinícius in Real Madrid is not very clear. The '11' verdeamarelo could leave to be a leader in another elite European football team in view of his poor performance as a starter and limited participation at times. Meanwhile, the striker from São Gonçalo remains closely linked to the multimillion-dollar offers from the Saudi Pro League that would arrive this summer.
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