Who is Nico Williams? The Athletic Club winger targeted by Liverpool and Real Madrid
Karan Tejwani
- 21 Oct 2022 21:00 BST
- 4 min read
Athletic Club are known for their academy and have done incredibly well in that regard over the last few decades, producing a host of homegrown talent that have starred for the senior team.
The Basque club have a unique style and their repertoire of players produced over the years include Javi Martinez, Fernando Llorente, Iker Munain, Ander Herrera, Inaki Williams and more.
Around 85 percent of their players have come through their own system, and currently, they have one star who’s excelling for his club and national team, Spain.
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That player is Nico Williams, brother of Inaki, who has been excellent for them over the last year and is set to play for Spain at the World Cup. So, what else do we know about him?
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What position does Williams play in?
Williams is an attacking player who can play on either wing, but his preferred position is on the right side, where he has played more over the years.
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How good is Williams?
Williams is one of the brightest attacking talents in the Spanish league, and at the age of 20, has done exceptionally well for club and country in his young career.
He can be great on both wings and as a creative attacker with excellent control on the ball, he is appreciated for what he brings to his respective teams going forward.
Williams is rapid and likes to dribble with the ball, with his direct style often admired and he’s able to beat a man with ease, a quality much-desired by many clubs around Europe.
Additionally, off the ball, he uses his speed well as he can provide quick bursts into spaces and is smart with his running to support his team-mates for a potential pass. This is also useful when his side plays on the counter.
Nico Williams - 2022/2023 Season so far | The Future pic.twitter.com/iz5bJOLaxT
— ً🇫🇲 (@jdp343) October 14, 2022
He has often been praised for his attitude and desire to work for the team, and his ability to recover his place on the pitch after losing possession is also great.
Athletic Club coach Ernesto Valverde thinks he can get better: "Nico Williams is one more in the squad and we value him exactly the same as the rest of the players. We already know what happens with young people: their balloons swell a lot because they are predicted of their possible great potential in the future.
“Now Nico is at that moment in which he has to manage it well, I think he handles it well because he is a settled kid, but we want him to be an even better player. He has many things to learn and he is fine. We will help him to be comfortable here.”
What clubs are interested in Williams?
Williams reportedly has a release clause of around €50 million, but Athletic Club are working on a deal to get that increased in the near future.
Clubs such as Liverpool have been interested in him in the past and they see him as their long-term forward for the future.
Other than that, Manchester City and Real Madrid were also said to be keeping an eye on his development in the past with a view to a future move.
When does Williams’ contract expire?
Williams’ deal with Athletic Club expires on 30 June, 2024.
How old is Williams?
Williams was born on 12 July 2002. He is currently 20-years-old.
What is Williams’ Instagram?
Williams’ Instagram is nicolas_williams9 and he has 183k followers as of October 2022.
