Nico Williams explains Barcelona transfer snub | OneFootball

Athletic Club's sought-after forward Nico Williams revealed that he turned down transfer interest from Barcelona last summer to stay in the "family" atmosphere his boyhood club provided.

Beyond the bonds formed by years of playing alongside one another, Williams regularly lines up next to a literal family member in the form of his older brother, Inaki. The two sons of Ghanaian refugees have established themselves as crowd favourites at the Basque club, terrorising opposition backlines with their shared, signature pace.

At 30, Inaki's peak may have passed, but Nico - who is eight years younger - has become one of the most in-demand wingers across Europe. After scoring the opening goal in last summers Euro 2024 final for Spain against England, Williams appeared destined to leave Athletic for one of the continent's giants.

Arsenal were regularly linked with the jet-heeled forward, but Barcelona came closest. A deal seemed to be on the verge of completion before Williams had a change of heart.

Nico Williams was a prime transfer target for multiple clubs last summer / Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/GettyImages

When asked about the transfer saga in an interview with L'Equipe this week, Williams described Athletic as "my family". He added: "This relationship that we have within the club is incredible. This atmosphere, I think I will not experience it in any other place. At that moment [last summer], I made the decision that I considered the right one. And I am happy about it."

Before winning Spain's first major men's international tournament since 2012, Williams helped Athletic end a 40-year wait for silverware by starring in a triumphant Copa del Rey final against Mallorca.

After a relatively slow start to the current campaign - no doubt impacted by his international exploits and the mental strain of so much speculation - Williams has belatedly rediscovered his best form, reigniting more transfer intrigue.

Reports suggest that the Spain international is "more open" to a move to the Premier League this year, ditching his preference to remain on mainland Europe. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur all retain an interest in the young forward.

Barcelona, however, have supposedly shelved their ambitions to sign Williams this year after moving for Dani Olmo as a hurried alternative last summer.