The newly appointed captain of Athletic Bilbao, Inaki Williams, spoke about the emotional rollercoaster surrounding his brother Nico's transfer saga.
“On a family level, everything was a bit complicated because a lot was said about my brother, and much of what was said about Nico is untrue. He just remained silent. Everyone has the right to think and reflect on their future. This summer, people were often unfair to my brother. When someone goes to a restaurant and receives a menu, sometimes it takes them a few minutes to choose. My brother’s decision was not easy. Nico’s maturity was incredible, and he chose Athletic, a club that is making giant strides. We have one of the best teams in these 12 years that I have been in the first team.
Nico had the opportunity to choose because he had many offers and many teams were making bids for him, as he is a top-level player. He was a favorite of the big teams. It was not easy, as all the external noise could make him doubt, but he made the best decision. My brother expressed himself quite clearly regarding his decision, but he had to sign a long contract.
There were things that caused a lot of harm, like the vandalism of the mural, broken car windows... He made his decision with his heart. He chose to be with us and leave his legacy here, just like Julen Guerrero did in his time, and to be a role model,” quotes Inaki Williams Marca.
It is worth noting that after lengthy negotiations with Barcelona, Nico signed a new long-term contract with Athletic until 2035.