After months of groundwork, verbal agreements and a public show of intent from both president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco, the 22-year-old winger chose to stay put in Bilbao. Athletic Club announced on July 4 that Williams had renewed his contract until 2035, with a release clause now worth €100m [$117m].

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is planning on turning to the club’s famed La Masia youth system in the immediate aftermath of Nico Williams’s shock snub, reports in Spain claim.