Guti Hernández has made an exception in his anti-Barcelona script during his appearances on El Chiringuito. He has sided with Barça in the conflict that has arisen in Bilbao over Nico Williams's departure.
This is how he explained it last night on El Chiringuito:
"He can't understand the feeling. What is the feeling of Athletic Club when it tells a player who was at Athletic, 'I don't want you anymore, leave'?
If it's my son... Would I kick my son out of my house? I would never kick my son out of my house.
"Nico Williams wants to keep growing"
I would keep him. If he's not good enough, fine. But he's my son.
There are two sides here. When we talk about feelings... I love Athletic Club's philosophy, but in this sense I don't share it.
Because there are players who, because of their quality, will never leave Athletic Club. There are other players who, because of their quality, deserve to be able to try at big clubs.
This is the reality. They are limited, and in the end what one wants in their only life is to keep growing.
Let's not just focus on those who leave, but also on those whom Athletic Club tells 'no'.
Nico Williams, like Fernando Llorente and Javi Martínez
What's happening with Nico Williams now is very reminiscent of the harassment that Fernando Llorente and Javi Martínez suffered at the time for wanting to leave San Mamés.
Athletic also pays release clauses to take players from other Basque teams. There's no difference with what Barcelona intends to do: take the player by paying his price.
The story told by former players like Rafa Alkorta is striking. At the time, he left Athletic behind to go to Real Madrid. Now he raises his voice because Nico Williams wants to go to Barça.
A few weeks ago, the newspaper Marca published on its front page the possible arrival of Nico Williams at Real Madrid. Everyone thought it was fine.
It's clear that every step forward that Barça takes stings. In Bilbao... and in Madrid.
That's why the courage shown by Guti to explain things as they are is even more valuable. You can't block the path of a talent who wants to grow and win titles.