'Without a doubt!' - Rodri claims Man City should sign Spain team-mate Nico Williams and believes he would be at home with 'similar' weather to Bilbao

The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner took the opportunity to praise his compatriot while collecting an individual accolade from the Spanish newspaper AS. Williams, who played a pivotal role in Spain’s triumphant Euro 2024 campaign after a stellar season at Athletic Club, was also recognised at the event but was unable to attend due to his side's preparations for a La Liga clash against Real Madrid.

During the ceremony, Rodri interacted with Williams and Spain manager Luis de la Fuente through a remote connection. The Athletic Club winger shared his focus on preparing for the challenging game against Real Madrid, while Rodri playfully suggested that he would like to see the 22-year-old join Manchester City.

“Right now, I would take him to [Manchester] City, without a doubt, so that he feels the cold of Manchester, well it’s similar to Bilbao,” he said.

Williams has proven to be one of La Liga’s brightest talents. The pacey winger contributed significantly to Athletic Club’s success last season, registering eight goals and 19 assists in 37 matches. His form has carried into this season, with two goals and five assists in 18 appearances so far and this has sparked interest from several European elites including City, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

Having signed a contract extension in December 2023, Williams is committed to Athletic Club until June 2027. His deal includes a £50 million ($65 million) release clause, a figure Athletic insists must be met for any transfer. Notably, this clause will remain in place until 2025 but will reduce after 2026.

Williams will have the chance to further elevate his profile when Athletic Club face Real Madrid at the iconic San Mames Stadium on Wednesday. A standout performance against the reigning European champions could bolster his reputation and potentially attract new suitors.