What did Hansi Flick say to Nico Williams after the Barcelona-Athletic Club showdown? | OneFootball

Nico Williams found himself at the centre of attention before, during, and after the recent clash between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, a match that ended 2-1 in favour of the Blaugrana, thanks to goals from Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski.

Before the kick-off, Nico, who had been Barcelona’s main target to strengthen their left wing just days prior, was seen chatting and laughing with his friends from the Barça dressing room, which naturally fuelled more speculation about his future.

Flick’s meeting with Nico

Once the match ended, with referee Gil Manzano blowing the final whistle, Barcelona’s manager Hansi Flick approached Nico on the touchline and shook his hand.

This gesture sparked quite a bit of buzz, given the ongoing rumours about Nico’s potential move to Barça.

As the players began leaving the pitch for the changing rooms, the moment between Flick and Nico stood out as one of the night’s most talked-about images, especially on social media.

Despite all the speculation surrounding a possible transfer, the two appeared very cordial, linking arms and greeting each other warmly.

Nico Williams was seen chatting with the Barcelona players before the kick-off. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

This brief but friendly interaction showed that there were no hard feelings between them. After their greeting, Nico walked away with a smile, while Flick watched him leave, keeping the conversation short.

Although they exchanged a few words, it seemed clear from Flick’s relaxed demeanour that the discussion wasn’t of great significance.

The Barcelona manager later mentioned that his interaction with Nico was simply a congratulatory gesture for the player’s recent performances at the Euros.

He downplayed any further meaning behind their interaction, emphasising that he prefers not to comment on players from other teams, even when they have been a subject of interest for Barcelona.

“My hug for Nico Williams? I just congratulated him on the Euros. I don’t like to talk about rivals,” said the manager as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

This seemed to put to rest any rumours that the brief encounter was about more than just mutual respect and sportsmanship.