Strangers have erased the image of Nico Williams from the mural they painted in Barakaldo

The image of Nico Williams, a Athletic football player , disappeared this morningfrom the mural in the Lutxana neighborhood of Arakaldo, where his brother Iñaki, Iker Muniain and Oscar de Marcos also appear.

The mural painted by the street artist Carlos Lopez in March 2024, after the Athletic won the King's Cup in Seville, La Cartuja. The attack has now occurred when the possibility of registering Nico Williams for Barcelona CF has been announced. 

In an interview on Radio Bilbao, Carlos López has publicly lamented the attack on his work and recalled that he did it of his own free will, without anyone's request:  "Neither Athletic, nor Williams, nor anyone else, has paid me money and has not funded the mural painting.

The artist has stressed that his initiative was "totally disinterested" and offered it to Barakaldo's neighbors: "It was for people to enjoy. I have never asked for recognition from Athletic or anyone else."

As for the vandalism, Lopez believes that "someone is very frustrated that Nico is going to leave; that will be his business, but I don't know what my work has to do with it."

He has also expressed his displeasure that, when there are many ways to disagree today, for example through social media, "someone has decided to go beyond my work."

Asked if the mural will be restored or modified , the artist explains that the decision is not just his, since the wall is actually from a company. "I don't know what I'm going to do yet. Because suddenly an act that has nothing to do with you conditions you to do something," regrets Lopez, adding that it does not rule out covering the mural itself or putting the face of another player where Nico's face was, although he feels that "it would change the meaning of the original work."

Athletic reaction.

Nico's brother, Iñaki Williams, has written in his X account that "behind an anonymous disrespect, there is always someone too small to face. "

The Athletic Club has also issued a note on Network X. The dignity of a club is reflected in its consistency with its values and in its way of protecting its own.