Nico Williams: “Football is now taking one step further in the fight against racism”

He appears alongside former teammate Iñigo Martínez, who is also scheduling interviews, and looks impressive in a tracksuit. nostalgic This product is offered by the sports brand that just dressed the national team. Nico sits on a chair and begins a conversation with his arms crossed; This is an unmistakable sign that you are starting to defend yourself based on body language rules. Despite her shyness, she keeps her gaze on the interviewer and relaxes as the conversation progresses. The arms begin to move to support speech, and the laughter, if any, becomes heartfelt and loud before reaching laughter. A smile appears on his lips when the episode is friendly, but when the topic gets serious his chin adds more seriousness to what he’s saying. The communication consultant is also relieved to see that the conversation is fluent, and the meeting ends with a much tighter handshake than the first. Nico is no longer Iñaki’s brother.

Athletic have 7 of the last 9 points. They beat Celta 4-3 in a crazy match Matches in which you scored goals and handed out assists.

Treat me like yourself, I’m 21 years old please.

You came to this call in great shape.

I feel so good. I think I’ve made a leap forward in terms of quality this season, I’m improving as a football player and I’m working for it every day. The coach wants me to make more assists, not just to finish, and I’m at that stage. And reaching the national team like this is great news for me.

How do you evaluate being one of the centers of attention of your club?

It’s a little difficult at first because it’s an added pressure, but the competitive player loves that pressure. He loves taking on this role. I love it because I want to help the team and have people talk about me for it.

You and Oihan Sancet are here, but Vivian and Guruzeta also took this step. The new group has already settled in Athletic.

A very good squad is coming to Athletic. We finally have a ‘Guru’ with whom we understand each other wonderfully. What can I tell you about him? We call him Benzema and he is very important to me because he creates a lot of space for me. I think people don’t value him as a striker, they pay more attention to the goals he scores, but for both me and my brother he gives us incredible space behind the defense because he moves and builds relationships with the players. . This makes Iñaki and me better. As for Vivian, I think she takes her role as a centre-back very seriously and I encourage her to continue doing so because she will be one of the best centre-backs in the League. What do you want me to tell you about Oihan, he is a great actor.

We are talking about Athletic, but Real Sociedad has five players in the national team, Osasunda is also bringing players… Is northern football in fashion?

Basque football is making huge strides. When I was a kid, there were mostly players from Real Madrid and Barcelona in the national team. Now there is more than Real, Athletic, Osasuna… We have to continue like this and the message this team gives is very good: It doesn’t matter which team you come from, if you are good and work, you can succeed. be there I hope great players come out of Euskadi and continue to join the national team.

Nico, at 21 you played in the World Cup, won the Nations League and are on your way to your first European Championship. This is going so fast, isn’t it?

Fast is not enough. The truth is that you cannot fully absorb it. Everything comes at you so quickly that you don’t realize everything that’s happening to you. And the truth is, I’m living the dream. I can’t ask for more. I’m proud of myself and I make my friends, family and loved ones proud of what I do. I also work to be able to give more of myself, to go one step higher and, above all, to benefit from this privileged situation around me, such as being in the national team, and work harder every day.

How important is it for a young footballer to be well surrounded in these dizzying moments?

This is really important. They help me a lot. I have an older brother who is way above me, or De Marcos, who is way above youngsters like me, like Oihan, like Adu Ares, like Unai Gómez… They are very careful with us and that is appreciated because there is someone experienced in the Team who tells you: “Hey kid. , back off, you’re going too far.” And this is very necessary. I owe my life to my brother because without him I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

Do you see yourself playing with Athletic in Europe?

Clear. They are talking about Europe in the Athletic dressing room. We have the ambition to achieve a big prize, like playing in the Europa League or the Champions League, because we don’t put any limits on ourselves and we want to be there. I think we will achieve this if we continue at this pace, but we need to move forward, match by match, step by step. It is not easy at all because first there is Girona, Madrid, Atletico, Barcelona… These are very strong teams and we must continue to work and take that step that will ensure a leap in quality.

you understand Michel’s Girona win the League?

That would be great to see. In 2016 we saw Leicester win the Premier League. And here it would be nice, but let’s see how long they last. They are doing an incredible job, playing a very attractive and unifying football to watch. I hope they continue this way.

We’re getting serious. Your contract with Athletic expires on June 30th and you have become one of the most envied transfers of the big teams of both the League and the Premier League. Have you made a decision yet?

The fact that big teams like Barça, Madrid or clubs in England are watching me means that I am doing my job well. I’m clear about the decision I want to make, but ultimately it’s something my agents, who have been with me since I was 11, have. I also have my mother and father, my brother… We’ll see, but I’m very calm and I want to stay that way.

You talk about the decision, your family, your brother, your representatives… Will it be Nico’s decision, or will it be a consensual thing?

This will be everyone’s decision, not just mine. I have my family, I have my friends, I have my representatives… This is not just Nico’s issue, because ultimately family is very important to me and has a decisive role in this decision.

One last thing on this matter, will you convey the decision in time so that it does not affect the end of the League and the European Cup, or will I ask you again about your future in Germany?

After all, I don’t like noise either. I don’t like people who lie and create untrue rumors. People talk too much and it bothers me. I think sooner or later it will be known, but it will be known and I think it will calm us all down. We haven’t set a deadline, but we’re following some guidelines we’ve set for ourselves. As I said, I am calm, these are the affairs of my representatives and I want to keep it that way.

Let’s change the subject. Together with Vinicius, you became the player who meant the most against racism on the football fields. Are we making progress on this or are we still where we are?

The truth is, I’m very grateful to the League and the clubs in particular because they quickly identify these people or whatever and I don’t even know how to classify them. Football is now taking a step further in the fight against racism and insulters on the field are being quickly identified. Players, regardless of race or culture, feel more protected and I think we are making progress in this regard. I hope it continues this way.

Is racism a football problem or a social epidemic?

I have always said that no child is born racist. This is part of the education your parents gave you. Your environment is very important so that you can see how a child will behave when he grows up. Children see what adults do, and the education they are given is key to this. I hope that we will gradually make progress in this regard. I know it will be very difficult to end this, but I hope that we will continue to move forward because this is a task in which we must all engage to achieve a more diverse and tolerant society in which we can live together smoothly. Football fields are also the mirror of society.

Let’s talk about something more comforting. The other day an experienced player told me that he had never seen such a good atmosphere in the national team.

I have always said that I felt like a family from the first day I joined the national team. They welcomed me as one of their own and I feel loved in the locker room. There are a lot of jokes, a lot of genuine gestures of friendship, a great atmosphere… Everyone comes from their own club, we see each other every month or two, and in the end it’s not easy to achieve that harmony. But I think the coaches and staff are doing a great job, we’ve got an incredible atmosphere and we’re all enjoying it.

Does this beautiful atmosphere have anything to do with the Nations League championship?

The Nations League championship is undoubtedly a result of this, because when a team is a team, its teammate is also a friend and you fight harder for the friend next to you. And I think that’s what characterizes us. There are good people here and the atmosphere is very familiar.

Lastly, will Spain take on the role of candidate to win the European Cup, or will they prefer to remain undercover?

Spain is of course a candidate for the European Cup. We have an incredible team, we have quality, we have rhythm… We have everything we need to win, but we have to move forward step by step and focus on winning the matches against Cyprus and Georgia first and finish as the group leader. to be seeded.. But I am optimistic and believe that we can achieve this great title. And competitors know this.