Nico Williams Wants Barcelona Move, Bilbao Fans Outraged

After Nico Williams expressed his desire to join Barcelona, his mural was vandalized by angry Athletic Bilbao fans with harsh insults.

The mural honoring Nico Williams in the Lutxana neighborhood of the Basque Country (Spain) was once again targeted by vandals on the morning of June 28.

The artwork, which had just been restored only hours earlier, was unfortunately defaced.

This time, vandals painted over his face in blue and scrawled fierce criticism across the mural.

On June 21, the mural was previously attacked in a similar fashion, with his face being replaced by graffiti in Basque reading: "Whether you stay or leave, you've lost our respect."

That act sparked a wave of outrage, prompting authorities and local figures to intervene and restore the mural.

Athletic Bilbao also urged their supporters to behave civilly, as the tug-of-war with Barcelona over the potential signing of the EURO 2024 champion continues.

Street artist Carlos Lopez, responsible for the restoration, spent nearly 10 hours under the sun and around €900 on materials to return the painting to its original state.

Once restored, the mural gained wide attention on social media, receiving praise from players including Nico’s brother Iñaki Williams, Unai Gomez, and Unai Nunez.

The artwork symbolizes the deep-rooted connection of the Williams brothers to the Basque Country and their footballing dreams.

However, the latest act of vandalism shows the controversy is far from over, as fans continue to await whether Barcelona president Joan Laporta will activate the €58 million release clause.

The ongoing transfer saga, stretching back to 2024, has generated growing dissatisfaction among a segment of Bilbao supporters.