West Ham boss Slaven Bilic was impressed with Spain’s Nolito on Friday evening.
West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic told ITV’s Euro 2016 coverage on Friday evening that he was impressed with how Spain star Nolito created space in the final third.
After Italy had beaten Sweden 1-0 and Croatia threw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with the Czech Republic, it was Spain’s turn on Friday evening – and they swept a terrible Turkey side.
Alvaro Morata headed the reigning European champions in front from a Nolito cross, before Nolito then turned home from close range after Turkey failed to deal with a Cesc Fabregas pass.
Morata grabbed his second from a Jordi Alba pass, and that’s how it stayed as Spain made it two wins from two games in France, with no goals conceded so far.
Andres Iniesta stole the show in midfield, but the performance of winger Nolito deservedly earned plaudits. The Celta Vigo star, formerly of Barcelona and Benfica, was a constant menace to the Turkey defence, and picking up a goal and an assist summed up his superb evening.
The 29-year-old hit 12 goals and seven assists for Celta Vigo last season, and has recently been linked with a move to England with West Ham United.
The Mirror reported last weekend that West Ham were keen to sign Nolito for around £8m in a bid to team him up with another dangerous attacker in Dimitri Payet – but that price will have rocketed after his Euro 2016 performances.
Intriguingly, Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is working as a pundit for ITV during the tournament, and just days after the transfer speculation, he singled Nolito out as one of the top players for Spain, praising him for his ability to find space in and around the penalty area.
Bilic added that Nolito never stops moving and trying to find pockets of space, making him a nightmare for full backs to defend against – and his comments will no doubt intensify rumours surrounding a West Ham move for Nolito this summer.
“Look at Nolito,” said Bilic. “When players today are saying ‘I’ve got no space’ – you’ve got to move to create space. Nolito is never still, he’s always on the move. You see Nolito going there, going there, going there, you are so frustrated as a full back that eventually you kick him. Create space, in today’s football there is no space, but Nolito is creating when there is no space,” he added.
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