Athletic Club fans turn cold on Nico Williams over Barcelona move
As the likelihood of Nico Williams' departure increases, the first major public reaction has already taken place back in his hometown.
A mural in Barakaldo, a municipality located in the Basque Country, which featured both Nico and his older brother, Inaki Williams, has been altered.
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In the early hours of Sunday, a group of individuals erased Nico's image from the wall. What remains is not just the absence of the young star's face, but also a strong message painted next to it.
'Joan edo geratu, errespetua galdu duzu.' (Translation: 'Go or stay. You have lost respect.').
The mural originally went up in March 2024, following Athletic Club's Copa del Rey triumph. Over time, other club icons like Iker Muniain and Oscar De Marcos were added.
However, the recent act of defacing shows how divided emotions have become, especially among fans who feel betrayed by Nico's possible exit.
Barcelona working behind the scenes
Despite the controversy, the transfer looks set to go through. Barcelona's sporting director Deco has already confirmed that the club is actively working to finalise the move.
The earlier mural looked like this. (Photo credit: X/GerardRomero)
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The player's camp is also playing its part. Nico's agent, Felix Tainta, is now trying to convince Athletic Club to accept a payment structure that would allow Barça to pay the fee in instalments rather than all at once.
The release clause currently stands at €58 million, but with inflation factored in, the total amount could reach €62 million unless both clubs reach a favourable agreement soon.
If all goes according to plan, Nico Williams could soon be wearing the Barcelona shirt, fulfilling a move that now seems more inevitable than ever, even if it comes at the cost of upsetting his hometown supporters.
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