‘He didn’t do that’ – Deco explains why Barcelona signed Dani Olmo instead of Nico Williams | OneFootball

Barcelona sporting director Deco has on Thursday provided an insight into the club’s decision to bring in Dani Olmo last summer, despite persistent links with Athletic Club star Nico Williams.

The name of wide-man Nico of course dominated the headlines in Catalunya’s capital throughout the summer transfer window in 2024.

This came after widespread confirmation was forthcoming that the 22-year-old – fresh off a stellar showing at the European Championships – had been identified as a leading target on the part of the Barcelona brass.

Amid a search for reinforcements in the final third, Nico was identified as the ideal profile by those behind the scenes at the Camp Nou.

It therefore came as something of a surprise when, in the end, it was another player who acted as Barca’s marquee summer signing.

The Blaugrana ultimately opted to allocate the bulk of their budget towards one of Nico’s international teammates, in RB Leipzig standout Dani Olmo.

And as alluded to above, this week, Deco has provided an insight into precisely why…

During an interview with RAC1, as cited by journalist Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona’s sporting director highlighted Olmo’s personal ‘confidence’ in Hansi Flick’s project as key:

“Nico is a top player… but last summer Dani Olmo really wanted to come to Barcelona, showed confidence in the project and so made it easier for us. Nico did not do that.”

Conor Laird – GSFN