What happened?

The mural located in the Lutxana neighborhood, celebrating Athletic Club’s Copa del Rey title, was originally painted by artist Carlos López in March 2024, just before the final. It first featured the Williams brothers, Iñaki and Nico, and over time, López added images of Iker Muniain lifting the trophy and Óscar de Marcos.

A few days ago, Nico’s face was defaced with red paint—matching the dominant color of the mural—alongside the message in Basque: "Joan edo geratu, errespetua galdu duzu" (“Whether you stay or go, you’ve lost our respect”). It was a clear expression of anger from some fans, upset over the younger Williams brother’s reported intention to leave Athletic and sign with Barcelona.

The image is back… but what about the love?

Following the vandalism, Athletic Club publicly condemned the act, emphasizing that it did not reflect the values of the institution. The club reached out to the artist to begin the restoration process.

This Friday, Carlos López began repairing the mural with the club’s support, and Nico Williams’s image has now returned to the urban landscape of Barakaldo. But restoring a mural is one thing… rebuilding the emotional bond with fans is quite another.

A gesture from the club, not from the fans

While the club pushed to have Nico’s face reinstated, the connection with supporters remains strained. Many still resent his desire to leave, and criticism continues.

Behind closed doors, there’s disappointment as well. Though the official line remains professional, internally the feeling is different. Nico Williams was central to the club’s long-term plans, and now Athletic must rethink its future without its brightest star.