Athletic Club youngster comments on whether he would be tempted to join Barcelona – ‘I would say…’ | OneFootball

Athletic Bilbao midfielder Mikel Jauregizar has made his stance clear when asked about the possibility of joining Barcelona in the future.

The 21-year-old, who plays a key role in the Basque side’s midfield alongside Ruiz de Galarreta, is fully committed to Athletic and has no interest in moving to Catalunya.

“I’m happy to play 90 minutes and pleased with my performance,” Jauregizar stated after his latest outing. When asked about the prospect of Barcelona trying to sign him, he gave a firm response, “I would say no.”

For Jauregizar, loyalty to Athletic comes before anything else. He pointed towards Nico Williams as an example to follow, praising his teammate’s decision to reject Barcelona’s advances earlier this summer.

“You can see how proud we are and how much we want to play for Athletic and in this project,” the young midfielder added.

Barcelona had failed once

Jauregizar’s words once again highlight the frustration Barcelona face in their efforts to strengthen their squad.

Mikel Jauregizar says he would not join Barcelona. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

It must be remembered that Nico had long been a top target for the Blaugrana, with the club reactivating their pursuit of the 22-year-old winger earlier this summer.

At one point, a deal looked almost inevitable, with talks progressing positively and optimism growing in Barcelona.

But in a dramatic turn, Nico decided against the move. Instead of joining Hansi Flick’s project, he signed a lucrative long-term extension with Athletic, keeping him in Bilbao until 2031.

His decision was a blow for Barcelona, who viewed him as an ideal addition to provide pace and creativity in attack.

Despite Barcelona’s historic appeal and their ability to attract top talent across Europe, the club’s struggles in the transfer market show that not every player is willing to leave behind projects that give them security, identity, and financial stability.

Source: AS