Frenkie de Jong Takes Cheeky Dig at Bayern Over Nico Williams Snub
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong couldn’t resist a sly swipe at Bayern Munich following reports that Nico Williams is set to reject the German giants in favor of a move to Camp Nou.
When asked about the rumors, De Jong grinned and quipped, “Looks like he knows where the real football is played.”
Williams, who has been a top target for Bayern this summer, is reportedly leaning toward joining Barça despite Bayern’s lucrative offer — a decision that clearly delighted De Jong and added a playful twist to one of the transfer window’s most anticipated sagas.
De Jong’s Swipe at Bayern as Nico Williams Snubs Richer Offer for Barça
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong couldn’t resist a cheeky dig at Bayern Munich after reports emerged that Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams had turned down a bigger financial package from the German giants in favor of a move to Camp Nou.
When asked about the news, De Jong alluded to Bayern’s own past remarks during the Robert Lewandowski saga in 2022 — when then-sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić famously questioned Barça’s finances. Smiling wryly, De Jong quipped, “I guess some players still believe Barça is a bigger draw, even without the extra money.”
Williams’ decision underlines the appeal of Xavi’s project despite Bayern’s lucrative offer — a reality that clearly delighted the Dutchman and reminded everyone that, as De Jong hinted, prestige can sometimes outweigh paychecks.
De Jong Trolls Bayern as Nico Williams Snubs Big-Money Move for ‘Broke’ Barça
Frenkie de Jong has taken a cheeky swipe at Bayern Munich and their former sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić after reports emerged that Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams is set to reject a more lucrative offer from the German giants in favor of joining Barcelona.
Back in 2022, during tense talks over Robert Lewandowski’s transfer, Salihamidžić famously quipped that Bayern wanted their money up front because they weren’t sure Barça would “still be around” in a few years — a jab at the club’s then-unstable finances.
Fast-forward to this summer and Williams’ decision to accept a six-year contract at Barça — despite Bayern’s far bigger financial package — has given Culés the perfect comeback. De Jong appeared to savor the irony, ‘liking’ a viral post mocking Salihamidžić with the caption:
“Nico has turned down a much better financial offer from Bayern to join ‘broke’ Barça.”
As Barcelona continue to negotiate terms with Athletic Club for Williams’ transfer, fans are left wondering if it was the allure of Camp Nou, Xavi’s project, or simply the Barça DNA that swung the decision.
And as one bemused supporter put it on social media: “Have we forgotten what Cruyff taught us? Money can’t buy identity.”
Better than everything you’ve tried before! Download Tribuna.com’s new app Football Xtra — now on both Android and iOS