Nico Williams at 200: team-mates recall a cheeky, fearless Alevín | OneFootball

Nico Williams will make his 200th official appearance for Athletic on Saturday against Sevilla at San Mamés, aged 24. He arrived at Lezama from Pamplona’s La Rotxapea to join Alevín B in 2014-15 within a 2002-born intake. He was coached by Oskar Alkorta with Iban Fuentes.

As reported by as.com, Oier López remembers a shy, humble boy who gradually opened up, mohawk and all. He says Nico truly took off in Cadetes, powerful and different, and he remains a close, natural character.

Iñigo Gomeza, a left-sided defender, sensed the gap early. He felt Nico was individual at first, then in Cadete he dominated possession drills and small games. Facing him in training, Gomeza was often beaten by his speed and clean technique.

Gomeza adds they expected Primera football, though not necessarily global stardom. He calls Nico cheeky and streetwise, sometimes forgetting parts of his kit, with parents travelling by taxi or train. At tournaments he insisted on being known simply as Nico.

Alkorta smiles at those Alevín days, calling him funny, quick, light and fearless, a joy to coach. Two Alevín groups trained together before splitting at weekends, a talented cast including Mikel Goti, Ander Madariaga and Markel Crespo. Nico, he says, adapted fast among quality.

Source: as.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”