Andres Iniesta believes Nico Williams would elevate Barcelona to ‘another level’ if his old team outbid Chelsea and Arsenal for the Spain winger.
Williams has piqued the interest of La Liga powerhouses Barcelona and Premier League rivals Chelsea and Arsenal during Spain’s excellent Euro 2024 campaign.
The 22-year-old has started five of Spain’s six Euro games, with the exception of their last group game, and has helped Luis de la Fuente’s team advance to the final, where they will face England, on Sunday.
Speculation over Williams’ future is set to heat up after Euro 2024, with his present club Athletic Bilbao expecting offers for the explosive winger.
Barcelona are believed to be leading the race to sign Williams but the Spanish club could yet face competition from Chelsea and Arsenal.
Asked about Barca’s interest in Williams, Nou Camp legend Iniesta told Mundo Deportivo: ‘The level he’s showing is in line with the national team.
‘Nico also had a fantastic season at his club, he’s a name that will surely be heard by the big teams.
‘His signing for Barcelona would give the club another level, but we’ll see what happens.’
While Williams is being linked with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, he has informed his inner circle that he does not want to hear about interest until after Euro 2024.
‘I said that I didn’t want to know anything about what comes from outside, about signings or stories,’ he told Spanish outlet AS earlier this month.
‘They know what I am like, the personality I have, and I don’t like to know because I get distracted easily. I prefer to focus on one thing and go for it.
‘Because if one thing or another comes to me, in the end my head doesn’t work very well.
‘My agent, my parents and my family know me perfectly and they know that I don’t want to hear anything until the Euros are over.’
Meanwhile, Barcelona midfielder Pedri – who will miss the Euro 2024 final through injury – has already urged Williams to join him at the Nou Camp.
‘Nico Williams would be a spectacular signing for us at Barcelona, it’d be incredible,’ Pedri said recently. ‘He’s a player who is already showing what he’s capable of. I hope he can join us!’
When asked if he had discussed a transfer to Barcelona with Williams, Pedri replied, “We don’t talk about it much.”
Both he and Barca need to decide on this. Many factors are required to occur.