Jose Mourinho has sparked controversy with his latest remarks about Nico Williams, which are likely to rile Barcelona supporters. Williams, who was a transfer target for Barcelona during the summer, chose to remain with Athletic Bilbao despite the club’s interest. However, Mourinho, now managing Fenerbahçe, has voiced his preference for the 2024 Euro winner over Barcelona’s young star, Lamine Yamal.
Ahead of Fenerbahçe’s UEFA Europa League clash with Athletic Club, Mourinho lavished praise on Nico Williams for his performances during the Euros, even suggesting that he preferred him over Yamal, who was recently awarded the 2024 Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy. While Yamal is widely considered the future of Spanish football, Mourinho disagreed with the widespread admiration for the Barcelona prodigy. “In the Euros, people were all saying Yamal, Yamal, Yamal,” Mourinho said. “He’s a wonderful boy, but I personally prefer Nico Williams.”
Mourinho’s comments took an even sharper turn when he suggested that Williams would be better suited to Barcelona’s rivals, Real Madrid. “I hope he ends up at Real Madrid,” he told Cope, as reported by Madrid Universal. This remark is sure to have struck a nerve with Barcelona fans, especially given Mourinho’s deep ties with their archrivals.
Whether Mourinho’s comments were intended to provoke or reflect his genuine admiration for Williams is unclear, but they underscore his strong connection to Real Madrid. During his time at the Santiago Bernabéu, Mourinho was credited with breaking Barcelona’s dominance in La Liga and restoring Madrid’s European glory.
