Nico Williams opens up on failed Barcelona move: ‘I made the right decision’ | OneFootball

It has been a year since Barcelona attempted to sign Nico Williams from Athletic Club, only to fail once again, with the player eventually signing a long-term contract extension.

A year on, Nico, as well as his brother, Inaki Williams, have offered details into his failed move to Barcelona, as revealed in the RTVE documentary.

What happened last summer?

Nico, who eventually committed his future to Athletic until 2035, admitted the saga took a serious toll on him and those around him.

Nico Williams is close friends with Yamal. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

“My year has been unusual. It was a very difficult summer, a lot of pressure on me and my family, and in the end it’s not easy,” the Spain international explained (h/t SPORT).

His brother Inaki, the Athletic captain, described how the constant speculation created an unfair narrative around a decision that would have altered Nico’s life entirely.

“If my brother didn’t decide overnight, or if he remained silent or pondered what for him was a brutal life change, it seemed like he was doing badly,” Inaki said.

The ugly side of the saga

The Ghana international also recalled some of the more unpleasant episodes the family endured during those weeks, with tensions spilling over into their personal lives.

“The worst moment was when they vandalised the mural. Especially when my brother returned from vacation with his girlfriend and we found the car window smashed,” he said.

Adding to the chaos was the flood of contradictory information emerging on a daily basis. “A sporting director would say one thing, a Twitter outlet would say another,” he added.

The turning point, according to Inaki, arrived out of the blue while he was on holiday, when Nico phoned to deliver the news that would shape the summer.

Nico is no longer an option for Barcelona. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

“He called me on a video call. We were in Ibiza. He said, ‘Inaki, I’ve decided I’m staying.’ I said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I told my wife, ‘This kid has grown up, my brother’s not a kid anymore,'” Inaki revealed.

No regrets from Nico

A year on, and with Barcelona having gone on to win La Liga without him, Nico insists he has absolutely no doubts about the path he chose.

“I made the right decision. I prefer to be at this club than to win five Champions Leagues or two La Liga titles. And I’ve proven it,” the winger stated.

Nico is currently focused on the World Cup, where he has not shied away from heaping praise on close friend Lamine Yamal.

Nico will be an option on the bench for Spain as they take on Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final this weekend.