Athletic Bilbao and Spain’s hopes for the business end of the season have been dealt a seismic blow, as dynamic winger Nico Williams has been ruled out indefinitely.
The 23-year-old has been forced into an intensive treatment program for a persistent pubalgia issue, a brutal setback that sources describe as leaving the Euro 2024 hero “in a bad way” and casts a dark shadow over his participation in the 2026 World Cup.
The Basque club confirmed on Monday that Williams has begun a specialized rehabilitation regimen with an external specialist. The statement confirmed the winger would be undertaking “specific work” that, depending on his evolution, “will see him out of the coming squads”.
The decision marks an admission by the club that previous attempts to manage the groin and abdominal discomfort have failed, forcing a complete halt.
The severity of the situation was laid bare by his brother and teammate, Inaki Williams, who offered a stark glimpse into the physical and emotional toll the injury has taken on the younger forward. “He’s in a bad way, he’s been carrying discomfort since September,” Inaki revealed following the weekend match against Oviedo.
“It’s true that with the pubis, some days you’re very good and the next you’re bad. I already commented last week that he had told me that he was beginning to see the light… And now it seems that it is two or three steps back”.
This relapse has forced the club’s hand. Head coach Ernesto Valverde, visibly frustrated after being unable to call upon his star winger for the recent victory over Real Oviedo, made it clear that the status quo was unsustainable.
“Nico has problems and is not 100%,” Valverde stated emphatically. “We can’t go on like this. We continue to work on different options, for the moment alternating treatment and competition, and if he does not recover, we are considering letting him rest for a few weeks in order to strengthen the affected area”.
That period of rest has now officially begun.
The timing is catastrophic. Spanish media reports suggest the layoff will stretch for several weeks, with the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Real Sociedad on March 4 already appearing to be an impossible target.
More alarmingly, with the 2026 World Cup in North America just four months away, there is a growing fear that if this conservative treatment fails, surgery, which could rule him out for three to six months, becomes the only option, potentially ending his dream of representing La Roja on the grandest stage.
Athletic Club’s Director of Football, Mikel Gonzalez, recently hinted at the delicate balancing act, noting the club was exploring options to avoid the operating table.
For now, the San Mames faithful must watch and wait.
The numbers paint a grim picture of a player who has been operating in the red all season: 26 appearances but only 18 starts, a meager return of four goals and three assists for a player of his electrifying caliber.
His total pitch time is significantly lower than many of his teammates, illustrating a campaign spent mostly in the treatment room or on the bench.