Football General Manager
- Williams had a car window smashed by angry fans
- Inaki confirmed emotional stress within the family
- Winger signed new deal after failed Barca move
Williams’ car window was smashed and his mural vandalised by frustrated Athletic Club fans during the peak of his transfer saga with Barcelona. Despite coming close to reaching a full agreement with Barcelona, doubts over the club’s ability to register him prevented the deal from going through and he opted to sign a long-term deal with the Basque club.
Athletic Club’s new captain, Inaki, opened up about how challenging the summer was for his younger brother, telling Marca: “On a family level,u0026nbsp;it’s been a bit complicated because there’s been a lot of talk about my brother, and much of what’s been said about Nico is untrue. All he’s done is remain silent. Everyone has the right to think and reflect on their future. At many points this summer,u0026nbsp;people haven’t been fair to my brother. When someone goes to a restaurant and they get the menu, it sometimes takes them minutes to choose. My brother’s decision wasn’t easy. Nico’s maturity has been incredible, with a wide range of options, and he’s opted for Athletic, which is a club that’s making giant strides, and we have one of the best teams in these 12 years that I’ve been in the first team.”
He added: “Nico was able to choose because he had many offers and many teams bid for him, as he’s a top-level player with a clause that could have been easy to assume. He was a sweetheart for the big teams. It wasn’t easy because all the external noise can make him doubt, but he made the best decision. My brother was pretty clear about his decision, but a long contract had to be drawn up. Things happened that caused a lot of damage, like the mural being vandalized, a car window being broken… He made his decision with his heart and ambition. He decided to be with us and leave his legacy here, just as Julen Guerrero did in his day, and to be a role model for wanting to make his way here.”
The 31-year-old went on to explain the emotional toll and the private conversations that shaped Nico’s final choice: “Many teams have wanted him when he’s only 23 years old. He’s kept quiet and I’ve had to stop him many times because I saw things he didn’t like. We’ve had many calls and video calls during all this time. The people at Athletic should understand that it’s not easy to make a life decision in a short time. The decision was his and there was no pressure on my part. In the first league game when he jumps to San Mames, he’s going to receive enormous affection.”
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The 23-year-old’s choice to remain loyal to Athletic comes at a time when the team is pushing for greater things in La Liga and Europe. The club’s focus on building a solid, homegrown squad with players like Nico at the core speaks to a wider strategy of growth through unity and continuity. However, the backlash from some fans shows how emotionally charged modern transfers can become, especially when local players are involved.
Williams will now look to reset and focus on the 2025-26 campaign with Athletic. With his long-term future now settled, the winger will aim to lead from the front and play a key role for the team. Inaki believes the San Mames crowd will respond with “enormous affection” when his brother returns to the pitch.
