Barcelona send bold transfer message to Nico Williams after he decides to stay at Athletic Club: Reports
The Nico Williams saga at Barcelona has taken a sour turn as the player is reportedly considering staying at Athletic Club for another season. Although Williams and his entourage have not confirmed anything yet, Barca have sent a firm message to the 22-year-old before he makes his final decision.
As reported by journalist Santi Ovalle (via Managing Barca's X handle), here's the club's message for Williams:
“The Barça train will pass only now - it won’t come next year.”
Barcelona's message comes after Nico Williams reportedly decided to stay at his boyhood club for another year, per Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia. The Catalan giants have reportedly made it clear that they do not intend to wait for him till the next season if he rejects their offer this time. Sporting director Deco is in the process of convincing the Spaniard to move to Barca.
Williams could be a valuable addition to Barca's attack, especially due to his partnership with Lamine Yamal, which played a key role in Spain's triumph at Euro 2024. The Spaniard is a quick-footed winger whose chief attribute is his pace and the ability to run with the ball at his feet. Furthermore, he's young enough to have the endurance to track back and help with the defense.
Apart from Barca, clubs like Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are also reportedly interested in signing Williams. However, the Blaugrana were leading the race. He will likely not join any other club if he does not join Barcelona this summer.
Barcelona will look to sign Dani Olmo if Nico Williams does not join them: Reports
According to journalist Toni Juanmarti, Barcelona will look to sign RB Leipzig star Dani Olmo if the Nico Williams deal falls through. With growing pessimism about Williams' response, the club is reportedly considering focusing on Olmo's deal.
Juanmarti has reported (via Managing Barca's X handle) that Olmo wants to join Barcelona "no matter what" this summer. The club sent their first offer for the 26-year-old last week but the Bundesliga club rejected it.
As per beIN Sports, the Blaugrana's first bid for Olmo included $43.3 million fixed alongside $21.6 million in variables. However, Barca reportedly wanted to pay the fees in installments, starting with $10.8 million in January 2025. The proposal included additional bonuses for winning the La Liga and the Champions League.
Leipzig reportedly rejected the offer because of the payment conditions. However, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed (via Managing Barca's X handle) that the club are preparing a second bid for Dani Olmo, especially with Nico Williams not providing them with a definitive answer.
Reports suggest that Nico Williams should confirm his decision in the coming week while Barcelona continue to convince the player and also look at pulling off Dani Olmo's signing.