Athletic Bilbao punished fans who have erased winger Nico Williams from the mural painting of a players and stated that those who have ‘one of our own’ not respect ‘have no room in the family of the club in the midst of transfer speculation that connects him to Barcelona.
The 22-year-old Spain International, whose image was removed with the message «leave or stay, you lost respect», was defended by the Basque club with which he was joined as an Academy player in 2013.
Williams, who has a contract until 2027, is one of the esteemed assets of Athletic after being broken into in the senior team and is one of the first names on the team magazine.
«The dignity of a club is the dignity of the people who make up for it and are measured on the basis of their ability to behave in a coherent way with their own values, without falling into provocations or lowering themselves, and always keep their heads high,» the club said.
“The dignity of a club is also reflected in the way it protects its own people. That is why those who have deleted the image of Nico from the mural by artist Carlos Lopez in Barakaldo, not athletetic.
«And if they think they are part of this family, they must know that they are wrong: not respect one of our own respect to respect Athletic.»
The mural, made by artist Carlos Lopez, originally played Williams alongside his brother Inaki, who also plays for Athletic. The club has contacted Lopez to help the younger Williams restore to his rightful place in the artwork.
«Behind an anonymous lack of respect, there is always someone who is too small to show his face,» said Inaki on X.
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The wall painting became illegible after Barca sports director Deco said they could focus on the winger, who scored in last year’s European champion finale against England to guide Spain to a fourth fourth title.
«Nico, like other players, has shown interest in coming to us. If the conditions are correct, we go for him,» Deco said the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia.
«You first talk to the agent, then look at contract details and ultimately determine whether the player club is open to negotiation or will demand the full release clause. In the case of Nico it is very clear -he has a release clause.»
