Spain’s World Cup preparations have suffered another worrying setback after Nico Williams limped off injured during Athletic Bilbao’s 1-0 defeat to Valencia at San Mames on Sunday.
The explosive winger was forced off in the 37th minute after appearing to suffer a hamstring problem, raising fresh concerns over his fitness just months before the World Cup.
Williams, visibly uncomfortable and struggling to move freely, was replaced by his older brother Inaki Williams as Bilbao supporters watched anxiously from the stands.
Athletic Bilbao are yet to confirm the full extent of the injury, but the early signs have sparked fears within both club and country given Nico’s importance to Spain’s attacking setup.
Speaking after the match, Inaki Williams admitted the situation looked troubling.
“He was limping a lot,” Inaki said. “He hadn’t felt that type of pain before. It’s concerning considering the moment we are right now. We just have to wait and hope for the best possible scenario.”
The injury comes at a difficult time for the 23-year-old, who only recently returned from another spell on the sidelines earlier this year.
Nico has become one of the key faces of Spain’s new generation under Luis de la Fuente, forming a dangerous attacking partnership alongside Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal — who is also currently dealing with injury concerns.
His pace, direct dribbling and ability to stretch defences have made him one of Spain’s most important attacking weapons heading into the World Cup. The timing could hardly be worse for La Roja.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente is set to announce a provisional 55-man World Cup shortlist on Monday, and Nico’s fitness will now dominate conversations around the national team camp.
Athletic Bilbao’s defeat to Valencia added further frustration to an already painful afternoon.
The Basque side struggled to break down a disciplined Valencia defence, while the atmosphere inside San Mames turned tense following Williams’ early exit.
For Spain, however, the bigger concern lies beyond the result.
With both Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal currently battling fitness issues, uncertainty is beginning to grow around the condition of two of the country’s brightest attacking stars ahead of football’s biggest tournament.
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