Robert Navarro’s rise gathers pace under Terzic at Athletic | OneFootball

Robert Navarro has quickly become a crowd favourite in Bilbao after a year, his rise gathering pace as Edin Terzic reshapes Athletic.

According to El Correo, it began with a debut on 17 August against Sevilla, when he came off the bench to score the winner. In 44 official games since, that spark has grown into mutual trust and fresh optimism under the new coach.

Under Ernesto Valverde last season he flashed elite quality, scoring eight times, headlined by a heroic Champions League brace in Bergamo. Yet he was electric as an impact substitute and less convincing from the first whistle.

Terzic has moved to tackle that contradiction. Training in Lezama has featured close technical corrections, tactical tweaks and a human connection the coach is fostering across the squad.

Pre-season has offered evidence, five goals in six games. He struck twice in 45 minutes against Derio, created for Sancet versus Sestao and netted again against Burgos. Significantly, he was kept on for 90 minutes against Eibar.

Nico Williams is absent and expected back around 10 August after World Cup duties, as are Laporte and Unai Simón, leaving a gap on the left that Navarro is claiming. The old question about him being only a second-half option is fading. If he sustains this edge and applies it over 90 minutes at LaLiga intensity, far above this month’s opponents, Athletic could find both a gifted winger and valuable balance.

Source: El Correo