Nico Williams (Pamplona, July 12, 2002) calls “to enjoy football and educate children in tolerance.” “My mother is a fighter who crossed the desert barefoot and jumped the fence in Melilla pregnant with my brother Iñaki to give us a better life.” The Athletic forward, who wants half of Europe, only has in mind “getting the team into the Champions League and winning the Cup final against Mallorca.”
—The first thing is an analysis of the match against Colombia. What conclusions do they draw?
—Colombia is a team that is in great shape and made things very difficult for us. We are not happy with the result, but these types of matches also help us learn and try things with a view to the Euro Cup. Regardless of the result, there were positive things in London. Three teammates debuted with the Absoluta and the competition is increasing, which is very good for the group. Nobody can relax, being with Spain is very complicated.
—I have been observing for some time now that Nico Williams is as sought after for autographs as the Real Madrid or Barcelona internationals. Has he made the leap?
—I feel loved by people and it is true that I am growing. That people call me and love me is a source of pride for me. I am making a name for myself and that is a source of pride for any player.
—You were born in Pamplona and chose to play for Spain, your brother Iñaki does so for Ghana. Do you forgive him?
—Of course yes, of course I forgive him. It was my grandfather who asked my brother Iñaki to play for Ghana and they are both very proud of it. The decision was his and I am happy that Iñaki is with Ghana, although the last African Cup was a very hard blow for him.
—If that happened to Iñaki, you better than anyone can understand Brahim’s choice.
—Brahim will have his reasons and we must respect him. If he has decided to go with Morocco, then he will have his reasons. Every person is a world. What I wish him is that he does well and that they are proud of him.
—Both you and your brother are proud of your roots. It is not for less. What can you say about a mother like yours, who jumped the fence in Melilla pregnant in search of a better world and new opportunities! Is that where the strength of the Williams lies? Do all those who, like her, made that trip deserve more respect?
—My mother is our example. My mother arrived in Spain after walking barefoot through the desert in search of a better life. We didn’t come to rob anyone. She came in search of bread and a roof, in search of a better future for our family. She suffered a lot and is a fighter. That’s why everything I do is for her. My father went to London to find food for us. They have broken their backs for us. No one is born racist. Racism is a question of education, of teaching children well. They imitate, they do what they see.
“The positive thing is that three teammates debuted and there is more competition”
COLOMBIA
—I understand that your mother, María Arthuer, called you to order the other day when the brothers, you and Iñaki, argued in the match between your club, Athletic, and Deportivo Alavés…
-Yes Yes. She is in Ghana, but she found out and called us. She told us not to argue, especially in the field. But hey, these are football things. Then we continued in the locker room, but when we went home it had already passed us by.
—Does Spain have the best bands in Europe?
—Well, we still have to work a lot. There are very good players in the National Team, like Lamine Yamal. He has a great future. But we all still have a lot to do because we are young.
—Do you want to do the double and play in the Euro Cup and the Olympic Games?
—Now I am focused on these two games and then there are the objectives with my club, Athletic, which are to enter Europe and then the Cup final, against Mallorca, which will not be easy at all. I’ll think about the other thing when the time comes, but first I have to get on the National Team lists…
—What chances do you think Spain has in the Euro? Are we ready to beat France or England?
—Spain has a good group with a good combination of young people and veterans, but only the future will tell what we can achieve. We are going to work so that the fans and the country are proud of the team. I hope we can be at the top and I hope we can win the Euro Cup.
—I’m going to give you two forwards to see what you think: Lamine Yamal-Morata-Nico Williams, on the one hand, and Rodrygo-Endrick-Vinicius, on the other.
—Wow, those are two good strikers! Vinicius is a great player!
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Nico Williams, with Joaquín Maroto during the interview.JAVIER GANDULDiarioAS
—Why do you think they insult Vinicius: for being black or for wearing white?
—He is insulted because he is a great player and for being black. He is very bad and we have to cut those things. He is going to enjoy football, not insult.
—Have you ever suffered those insults?
—Yes, it is true that they insult you. I insist that you have to go to football to enjoy it.
—Do you see Athletic in the Champions League?
It would be something very nice, but there is still the League. We must go step by step. Our goal is to get into Europe.
—What do you see as closer: joining Athletic in the Champions League or winning the Cup against Mallorca?
-Both. We are an ambitious team and we aspire to achieve both objectives, but we know that it will not be easy. In the League there are still complicated games, and as for the Cup final against Mallorca, they are a team that has just eliminated Girona and Real Sociedad, two of the best teams in the championship. That final will be very difficult, very disputed. They have a great coach, like Aguirre. He is always affectionate and attentive to us.
—Are you happy with the renewal with Athletic?
A lot, of course. I am very happy to continue in Athletic and to play with my brother who I have been playing with since we were children in the park. It’s nice that other teams love you because it means they value you, but I’m very happy at Athletic and that’s why I renewed for three years.
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2024-03-24 10:45:24
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