Athletic Bilbao captain Inaki Williams has taken a swipe at FC Barcelona, accusing the Spanish giants of using the media to pressure his younger brother, Nico Williams, into leaving the club.
Nico, one of La Liga’s brightest young stars, had been the subject of intense transfer speculation during the summer, with Barcelona leading the chase for his signature.
However, the 22-year-old winger opted to stay loyal to Athletic Club, penning a contract extension through 2025.
Reacting to the transfer saga, Inaki did not mince words.
“A lot of lies have been told. We all know how football works and the pressure they wanted to exert,” the Ghana international said.
“Barca ran a media campaign that they thought would work. That external noise has done a lot of damage and has tainted the situation,” he added.
The outspoken forward recently inherited the captain’s armband following the retirement of long-serving defender Oscar De Marcos. He now leads a side that includes his brother as they prepare for a challenging 2025/26 season, which includes a return to European competition.
Athletic Bilbao will open their La Liga campaign at home against Sevilla, with the Williams brothers poised to spearhead the club’s ambitions both domestically and abroad.
