Nico Williams has unleashed a media storm with these forceful statements in a recent interview. The Athletic Club winger, one of the great promises of Spanish football and a key figure in the senior team, responded bluntly to a journalist who asked him about the persistent rumors of a possible transfer to FC Barcelona. What was intended to be a clear display of loyalty and personal ambition quickly became a boomerang that left him in an uncomfortable position in the public eye.

The answer did not take long to arrive, and it came precisely from Frenkie de Jong, one of the pillars of Barça, who with some calm but devastating words left Nico without arguments and exposed to general scrutiny.

The context of these words arises at a time when the transfer market continues to move strongly, even in the middle of 2026. During the summer of 2025, FC Barcelona did everything possible to incorporate Nico Williams. The Catalan club reached a personal agreement with the player, negotiated the termination clause of almost 58 million euros and Deco, the sports director, maintained intense contacts with the footballer’s entourage.

However, Nico decided to stay at Athletic Club, renewing his contract until 2035 in a gesture that many interpreted as an act of loyalty to his longtime club and his Basque roots. That “no” to Barça generated disappointment in Can Barça, where he was seen as the ideal complement for Lamine Yamal on the left wing, providing speed, overflow and goals in a project that seeks to recover its European greatness.

Months later, with rumors resurrecting again in 2026 – fueled by Athletic’s irregular performance and Barça’s need to reinforce its attack – a journalist did not hesitate to ask the direct question: is Barcelona a real option for Nico Williams? The winger’s response was lapidary: «Barça is not even up to the task for me to consider it. Mentioning them would only serve to lower my own ambitions. The words immediately resonated on social networks, television programs and sports portals.

For many, it was a clear declaration of intentions: Nico sees himself in the absolute elite, perhaps aiming for giants like Real Madrid, Manchester City or PSG, and considers that a move to the Camp Nou would represent a setback in his career.

The arrogance perceived in the phrase – which implies that the historic Barça does not reach its level – caused a wave of criticism. Culés fans remembered that the club has won multiple Champions Leagues, that it continues to be a world reference despite its financial problems and that players like Pedri, Gavi or Lamine Yamal himself are part of a young and ambitious project. Others pointed out the irony: Nico, who shone at Euro 2024 with Spain but who has not won major titles at Athletic, questions a European giant who has marked an era.

The final blow came with the reaction of Frenkie de Jong. The Dutchman, who has experienced Barça’s financial difficulties firsthand and has renewed his contract accepting salary adjustments to help the club, did not take long to respond in a subsequent interview. With his usual calm and elegance, Frenkie declared: “Everyone has their opinion and Nico is free to say what he thinks. But if we look at the history, the titles, the European competition year after year and the project we are building, it is difficult to understand how a transfer here would be a setback.

We always play for everything.

“Whoever doesn’t see it, maybe has other priorities.” It was not a direct attack or an insult, but a subtle response that focused on the facts: Barça, despite its ups and downs, continues to be synonymous with greatness, while Athletic – due to philosophy and limitations – does not compete at the same continental level.

De Jong’s phrase resonated deeply. On social networks, the comments multiplied: memes comparing the achievements of both clubs, criticism of Nico for “biting the hand that wanted to feed him” and praise for Frenkie for defending the club without falling into confrontation. Nico Williams did not respond publicly to De Jong’s words, which many interpreted as a revealing silence. Instead of counterattacking or qualifying, he chose to focus on his performance on the field, but the damage to public perception had already been done.

This controversy is not isolated. Nico had already been the protagonist of similar episodes: murals vandalized in Bilbao by ultras who saw in him a “betrayal” by not renewing sooner, family pressures (with his brother Iñaki also involved in harsh statements) and an environment that has mismanaged expectations. Barça, for its part, has moved forward: alternative signings such as Luis Díaz or Marcus Rashford have been in the orbit, and Hansi Flick’s team (or whoever is in charge in 2026) is looking for stability without depending on a “no” that hurts but does not paralyze.

The lesson is clear in modern football: words matter as much as goals. Nico Williams wanted to mark territory and reaffirm his status, but ended up exposed to a club and a player who, with less noise and more actions, reminded him where the true elite is. Frenkie de Jong, with his measured response, not only defended Barça, but also revealed the gap between the declared ambition and the reality of the record and the competition. Now, Nico must demonstrate on the green that his ambitions live up to his statements.