Barcelona chief breaks silence on summer pursuit of La Liga winger – ‘It is true that we were interested’ | OneFootball

In a recent interview with Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, shared insights into the club’s interest in Athletic Club’s winger Nico Williams over the summer.

Nico was on Barcelona’s radar as a potential addition to strengthen their attacking options.

Despite this, the winger ultimately chose to stay at Athletic Club, opting not to activate the release clause in his contract that would have allowed him to join Barcelona.

What happened with Nico Williams?

Deco confirmed that Barcelona had a genuine interest in bringing Nico on board but opted to keep the details of his discussions with the player’s agent private.

“Nico is a player that it is true that we were interested in during the summer, that we tried, but from here, the player made a decision and life goes on,” he revealed.

Barcelona wanted to sign Nico Williams. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

He explained that Barcelona pursued Nico as an option to boost their attacking depth, with the goal of fostering greater competition within the squad.

However, as soon as it became clear that Nico was not interested in making the move, the club shifted focus and stopped pursuing the matter.

Dani Olmo was the priority

Deco also highlighted that Dani Olmo was the priority signing, as Barcelona felt they needed a player with Olmo’s unique skill set.

His arrival has added a new dynamic to their attack, aligning with Barcelona’s objective to maintain high-level competition within the squad.

“We brought Dani Olmo, who was the priority because we did not have this player in the squad.”

Dani Olmo was Barcelona’s priority. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

By bringing in Olmo, Barcelona feels they have addressed a significant need in their lineup, enhancing their tactical flexibility and creating a stronger overall unit.

In the end, while Nico Williams was seen as an intriguing option, his lack of interest in leaving Athletic Club meant that Barcelona had to adjust their plans.

“The idea with Nico was to have one more player up front to compete because we wanted high-level competition but the moment the player shows he has no interest in coming we don’t talk anymore,” he revealed.

For Deco, this is simply part of the nature of football—clubs make offers, players make choices, and life moves on.