“Don’t go to Chelsea” – Jose Mourinho urges ‘wonderful’ Chelsea target to join Real Madrid
According to Jose Mourinho, he wishes that Nico Williams, who is “wonderful” and “fantastic,” joins Real Madrid instead of Arsenal or Chelsea.
After playing a key role in Spain’s victory at the European Championship last summer, Williams received interest from some of the top clubs in Europe.
With 22 goals in 142 games for Athletic Bilbao, the 22-year-old has never generated particularly impressive stats for the team, but he showed off his enormous potential during the Euros.
Williams was awarded player of the match when Spain won the title after scoring in their triumph over England in the Euro 2024 final.
Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea were heavily linked with moves for Williams towards the end of the summer transfer window and could revive their interest in one of the hottest prospects in Europe.
But Mourinho ‘hopes’ his former club Real Madrid win the race to sign Williams, who was also linked with Barcelona last summer before deciding to stay at Bilbao.
‘Nico is wonderful,’ Mourinho said at his pre-match press conference as Fenerbahce prepare to face Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League on Wednesday night.
‘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.’
Mourinho spent three years in charge of Real Madrid, winning the La Liga title in 2012 with 32 wins from 38 matches as Los Blancos amassed a staggering 100 points.
Madrid won La Liga and the Champions League last season but have endured an underwhelming start to the 2024-25 campaign, trailing Barcelona domestically and sitting 18th in Europe.
‘I am very much a Real Madrid fan; they have the best coach in the world, my friend Carlo,’ Mourinho added.