Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde insists he's counting on Nico Williams.

The Spain striker is being linked with Barcelona this week.

Valverde said, "The noise around Nico happens when there are players who stand out, especially with young people because they are valued much more for the potential they may have in the future than for what they are doing.

"It is something fictitious. There is a lot of talk about 'one player, then another, then another' and everything calms down as time goes by. We hope that Nico will be here with us for a long time."

Regarding his physical condition, Valverde points out, "Nico is fine. He came from the national team and was more or less optimistic. All this must be taken with a grain of salt because such young players, who have not had muscular problems yet, have to get to know themselves a little."