Jose Mourinho
Image credit: Getty Images
Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho has expressed his desire to see Spain’s rising star Nico Williams join Real Madrid rather than Arsenal or Chelsea, following the winger’s standout performances in Spain’s victorious Euro 2024 campaign.
Williams, 22, emerged as one of Europe’s hottest prospects after a scintillating summer tournament, scoring in Spain’s 2-1 victory over England in the Euro 2024 final and earning the Player of the Match award. While his club form at Athletic Bilbao—22 goals in 142 appearances—has been steady, his performances at the Euros demonstrated immense potential.
Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea were reportedly keen on securing Williams’ signature during the summer transfer window and remain linked with a move for the talented forward. However, Mourinho, speaking ahead of Fenerbahce’s Europa League clash against Athletic Bilbao, made his preference clear.
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“Nico is wonderful,” Mourinho said. “At the last Euros, everyone was talking about Yamal, Yamal, Yamal… who is obviously another fantastic young player. But personally, I prefer Nico; he is a fantastic footballer. One cannot think that a Turkish club could sign him; I hope he ends up at Real Madrid.”
Arsenal target Nico Williams
Nico Williams (Image credit: Getty Images)
Williams, who opted to stay with Bilbao last summer despite interest from Barcelona, continues to attract attention from Europe’s elite clubs, with Real Madrid reportedly at the forefront of the race to sign him.
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Mourinho, who managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, expressed his admiration for his former club and its current manager, Carlo Ancelotti. During his tenure, Mourinho delivered a historic La Liga title in 2012, achieving a record-breaking 100 points.
“I am very much a Real Madrid fan; they have the best coach in the world, my friend Carlo,” Mourinho said. “In the future, it will be up to the club to decide whether they prefer a young coach like Xabi Alonso or someone with experience like Ancelotti. They could also consider promoting from within with Raúl or Arbeloa. Florentino [Perez] has not made many wrong decisions, and I’m sure he will get it right next time.”
Real Madrid, who won La Liga and the Champions League last season, have struggled in the early stages of the 2024-25 campaign, trailing Barcelona in the league and enduring a poor start in European competitions.
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