Soccer player with a red jersey in front of the FC Barcelona crest on a pink background.

Nico Williams Confesses to Lamine His New Team: 'Neither Barça nor Madrid, I'm Going to the...'

The Athletic Club player seems to have his future very well defined

Neither FC Barcelona nor Real Madrid. He won't stay in Bilbao either. Nico Williams's future is already defined, and his destination will be none other than the Premier League.

Despite his name being strongly linked to the two LaLiga giants, the Navarrese winger has decided to take a different path. Lamine Yamal, his friend and teammate in the Spanish national team, is aware of all the movements.According to close sources, he already knew that the Athletic player wouldn't sign for Barça.

Two smiling footballers in white and blue training uniforms from a team sponsored by Silbö Telecom.
Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal | @rfef

Nico Williams, No Place at Barça

FC Barcelona tried to sign him last summer, but the deal didn't materialize. Now, with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal at a spectacular level, Nico Williams's arrival is no longer a priority.

A soccer player wearing the Athletic Club de Bilbao uniform gestures with his arms outstretched during a match.
Nico Williams | Athletic Club

His numbers this season show a significant difference compared to the blaugrana strikers:

Nico Williams: 33 matches, 6 goals, and 7 assists (involved in a goal every 2.53 matches). Raphinha: 37 matches, 24 goals, and 12 assists (practically a goal or assist per match). Lamine Yamal: 33 matches, 9 goals, and 13 assists (a goal or assist every one and a half matches).

With these figures, the reality is clear: Nico Williams wouldn't have an important role at Barça. He would have been a rotation player, a substitute for Raphinha and Lamine, something the Athletic player is not willing to accept.

A soccer player in a FC Barcelona uniform walks in a dark environment.
Raphinha | @FCBarcelona

Barça Ruled Out, He Also Rejects Real Madrid

Despite speculation at some point about possible interest from Real Madrid, Nico Williams won't land at the Bernabéu either. He doesn't want a secondary role and doesn't look favorably on following the path of young players like Arda Güler or Endrick, who have barely had minutes with Carlo Ancelotti.

Another determining factor in his decision is that he doesn't forgive Florentino Pérez for Madrid choosing to sign Joselu in 2023 instead of betting on him.

"The harmony between Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams is total," they say from the player's environment. However, fate hasn't wanted them to reunite at Barça.

Soccer players celebrating a goal on the field.
Real Madrid | @realmadrid

His Destination: The Premier League

With Barça and Madrid options ruled out, Nico Williams has decided to move to England. His destination will be Liverpool, where he will fill the vacancy left by Mohamed Salah.

Slot's team already has a replacement planned for their Egyptian star, and Nico Williams has been chosen. Athletic is still fighting for Champions League qualification and the Europa League title.But everything points to the fact that, once the season is over, the Navarrese winger will wear red at Anfield.

Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal | @SEFutbol

Lamine Yamal knows firsthand his friend's decision. Although he would have loved to share a locker room at Camp Nou, he understands that Nico Williams's future is far from Spain.

Barça and Madrid lose an opportunity, and the Premier League gains one of the jewels of Spanish soccer.