Nico Williams injury crisis deepens as surgery option looms
Athletic Bilbao star battling persistent pubalgia that threatens his season and World Cup hopes, with conservative treatment failing to solve the issue.
Athletic Bilbao facing anxious wait as their star winger’s fitness situation becomes increasingly concerning, with all treatment options now under consideration.
Persistent Pain Problem
Nico Williams’ ongoing battle with pubalgia has reached a critical point, with Athletic Bilbao now forced to consider all available options - including the dreaded surgeon’s knife. The Spanish international has been struggling with the condition since last season, and it’s severely limiting his ability to perform at the level that saw him finish 15th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings.
Valverde didn’t mince his words when discussing his star man’s fitness, stating bluntly that Williams “isn’t in condition right now” ahead of their clash with Sporting Portugal. It’s proper Adam and Eve territory for Los Leones fans who’ve watched their electrifying winger struggle through the campaign.
Failed Treatments
Despite Williams’ dedication to his recovery programme:
- Conservative treatment approaches haven’t yielded results
- He’s followed strict recovery and prevention protocols
- Rest periods without matches haven’t solved the issue
- The condition continues to limit his performance
The situation mirrors previous pubalgia cases at Athletic, with both Sancet and Dani García managing to overcome similar issues without surgery through less invasive techniques. Unfortunately, Williams hasn’t responded in the same way.
Season in Jeopardy
The persistent nature of the injury has severely restricted Williams’ campaign:
- Missed the Spanish Supercopa entirely
- Featured in just 3 Champions League matches
- Limited to 17 La Liga appearances (scoring 4 goals)
The most concerning development is that surgery now appears to be on the table as a last resort. If Williams does go under the knife, he’d face a minimum two-month recovery period - potentially jeopardising not just Athletic’s season but also his World Cup participation.
For a player who’s been giving it the full Donald Trump (giving it his all) in recovery sessions without seeing improvement, this represents a massive blow both personally and for a club heavily reliant on his explosive talents.