(WATCH) Hugs before kick off as Barcelona stars welcome Nico Williams | OneFootball

Barcelona host Athletic Club in a crunch La Liga battle tonight with all eyes on Nico Williams.

Williams returns to the visitors starting line up in Catalonia after opting against a move to Barcelona earlier this summer.

The 22-year-old was heavily linked with a switch to La Blaugrana if they were able to activate his €58m release clause at the Estadio San Mames.

However, despite the external pressure, Athletic Club have shut out the noise, and he remains in Bilbao.

Rumours are expected to continue and he is a popular figure in the Barcelona dressing room as shown ahead of kick off.

As both sets of players prepared for the game, Williams’ Spain teammates all reached out to him for a hug, including his close friend Lamine Yamal.

The pair holidayed together in Marbella last month, with their bond tightened by winning Euro 2024 together in July, but Williams remains in opposition to Barcelona’s teen sensation for now.