Barcelona was one of the many clubs keen on Athletic Club’s Nico Williams. However, one former executive of the Catalan side notes that the club has been following the 22-year-old for a while.

During the summer transfer window, Williams caught the eye of top clubs such as Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Spurs, Barcelona, and PSG.

After a standout 2023-24 season with Athletic Club, Williams made 37 appearances across all competitions. He scored eight goals and provided 19 assists, contributing to the team’s success in winning the 2024 Copa del Rey.

Moreover, Williams was also instrumental in helping Spain secure the UEFA Euro 2024 title this past summer in Germany.

In comments made to Movistar, Jordi Cruyff, the former technical advisor for FC Barcelona from 2021 to 2023 and son of the legendary Johan Cruyff, shared that the club has been keeping a close eye on Williams for quite some time.

“These are the moments that remind me of a tough time—what happened before,” Cruyff said (h/t Le10Sport). “But today is a new day. We were watching him because he’s an interesting player whose contract is coming to an end. He’s special, young, and would fit in well with almost any top team in Europe; they’d all love to have him.”