Earlier in the summer, Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams was asked to describe the differences between himself and his elder sibling – and San Mames team-mate – Inaki.
“My brother is more physical. He has a lot of pace,” Nico told TV3. “I’m a dribbler, like Neymar, (Ousmane) Dembele and Kylian Mbappe.”
And, as Nico belatedly opened his La Liga account at the 41st time of asking during Sunday’s 4-1 thumping of Elche, those shared attributes with Mbappe, in particular, were in full view of everyone at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero.
The Spain U21 international picks up the ball out wide, breezes past a bamboozled full-back before lashing a shot into the far top corner. Nico has always had pace, power and skill in abundance. At long last, however, there was a dash of end product too.
“Skilful, drops his shoulder, cuts inside and a left-foot finish into the top corner; that was a brilliant goal,” Spanish football expert Terry Gibson tells the El Tel and Jon’s La Liga Weekly podcast.
“I was surprised that was his first La Liga goal.”
The first of many, perhaps? Well, that depends on whether or not Liverpool, long-time admirers of the Pamplona-born speedster, firm up their interest in the New Year.
Liverpool like Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams
The Premier League giants, AS say, are watching the 20-year-old very closely during his rise to prominence on Spanish soil. And while Liverpool had no intention of triggering his £42 million release clause before September’s transfer deadline, more exhilarating displays like the one against Elche can only serve to turn that initial interest into something more concrete.
“He is a player who unbalances (defenders),” former Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde said after a win that left Athletic on the verge of the Champions League places.
“We believe he will evolve more. He has a good shot and should take more risks. He scored his first goal in LaLiga and I expect many more.”
Much has been made of Liverpool’s struggles following Sadio Mane’s move to Bayern Munich. This being their worst start to a season under Jurgen Klopp, after all. Williams, however, does his best work on the right rather than the left. Does this mean he’s viewed at Anfield as a long-term successor for Mo Salah instead? The Egyptian, while the recipient of a new long-term contract, is not getting any younger. And he, like much of Klopp’s squad, has fallen well short of those usually sky-high standards in 2022/23.
One swallow, of course, does not make a summer. And one goal does not make a superstar. If Nico Williams wants to remain on Liverpool’s radar, he surely cannot afford to wait another 40 games for La Liga goal number two to come around.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
