“Those b***** Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde” – Nico Williams on the Barcelona move that wasn't
It was the transfer saga of the summer in Spain, picking up where Kylian Mbappe had left off. Barcelona were desperate to sign him Nico Williamsbut he finally decided to stay at the Athletic Club, despite a litany of headlines about what did and did not happen in the negotiations between the two.
It's a story that has followed the younger Williams brother into this season as well. The 22-year-old appeared in 'La Revuelta' with Inaki Williamsand was asked about his summer.
“I suffered a lot. Now, on social media, people always send me messages (about Barcelona), of all kinds. Some say that I should always come to Barcelona, others that we no longer need you.
Inaki also chimed in, explaining the height of the aburd that reported his brother's decision.
“I read a story, that my parents separated because Nico had not made a decision. I think it was my mother who wanted to go, and my father who wanted me to stay. And that they separated because of that. What I put a lot of pressure on him” – “Your mother is a great Barcelona fan then, to separate here,” said presenter David Broncano, causing laughter.
Nico Williams on the #FCBarcelona move:
“On top of everything, ub****** Lamine and Balde did not make it easy. Buah! “Brother, come now, come now, come now”, at all hours, every day, I said. “I will decide,” I spoke with the family, that's it.pic.twitter.com/7WwZLZVWwW
— Football España (@footballespana_) November 7, 2024
“I didn't want to be involved in his decision, because I just wanted him to be happy, regardless of the decision he made,” continued Inaki Williams. “If my brother was clear that he wanted to be at Athletic, then I encouraged him to stay there.”
Laughing, Nico also explained that Barcelona youngsters Alejandro Balde and Lamine Yamal, with whom he shares a relationship from the national team, did their best to persuade him to move to the Catalan capital.
“More than anything, the whore Lamine and Balde did not make it easy. Well! “Brother, come now, come now, come now”, at all hours, every day, I told him “I will decide”. I talked about it with the family, that is.
Meanwhile, Barcelona's most effective player this season has been Raphinha, who has spoken of feeling slighted by fans trying to replace him with Nico Williams, something the Basque winger didn't care much for.
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic attended last night's match and was blown away by Barcelona's performance. @xavierbosch
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) November 7, 2024
“I'm happy for him, and happy to see him do well, I have no hard feelings.”
There have been reports that if Williams does not renew his deal with Athletic and increase his €58 million release clause, then Barcelona will leave the door open to a move for him next summer or down the line. The more Raphinha continues to perform, the rarer these stories become.
