Barcelona superstar reacts with strong message to Nico Williams’ rejection | OneFootball

For the second summer running, Nico Williams has rejected Barcelona. Instead, the 22-year-old winger has decided to stay loyal to Athletic Club, who have announced his contract extension until 2035.

This outcome comes as a big disappointment for Barça, especially since it was Nico’s own agent who first reached out to express the player’s interest in a move to the Catalan club this summer.

Barcelona have always made it clear that a player’s desire to sign is crucial for negotiations, and in this case, they believed Nico genuinely wanted to make the switch. However, things took a different turn in the final stages of discussions.

Haunting memories

For Barça, the situation brings back memories of past frustrations in the transfer market. Yet, they also have recent examples of players who showed real commitment.

Dani Olmo, for instance, was willing to wait patiently for the club despite uncertainties over his registration. Thanks to Olmo’s determination, Barcelona managed to complete his transfer from RB Leipzig last summer.

Dani Olmo sent a subtle message to Nico Williams. (Source: Instagram)

The club’s success in registering Olmo proved that with mutual trust and patience, complicated deals can go through, even when facing La Liga’s strict financial rules.

Olmo’s message to Nico

Once Nico’s renewal with Athletic was confirmed, Olmo was quick to send a subtle but powerful message.

The Barcelona forward posted an Instagram story showing the Barça badge with two hearts in the club’s colours, a clear sign of his loyalty and a possible hint towards his feelings about Nico’s decision.

Just days earlier, Olmo had publicly encouraged Nico to stay calm about the registration issues, sharing his own experience of waiting but ultimately joining Barcelona. He reassured Nico with the words: “In the end, everything works out.”

Despite Olmo’s advice and the club’s confidence, Nico chose to remain at Athletic Club, dashing Barcelona’s hopes of signing one of their top summer targets.