"We didn't realise what we got until afterwards"

Nico Williams will be Athletic Club's big threat, alongside Oihan Sancet, for Villarreal in Sunday's La Liga match. The Spanish winger is regaining the level that led him to be one of the best players of the last Euro 2024. Something that also made him one of the Ballon d'Or finalists.

"It was a surprise, I didn't expect to be nominated. As a child, everyone dreams of being able to attend a gala of this magnitude. I liked to watch the galas on TV when I was a kid. Being ranked number 15 in the world is incredible. It's also one more pressure you have to take on, but I'm very happy to be 15th and hopefully next year I can be higher," Nico Williams told El Club del Deportista.

One of Nico's biggest bases is his family, and specifically his brother Inaki: "He is a fundamental piece in my life, my advisor, my best friend. We have achieved everything together."

Euro 2024 in Germany has catapulted Nico Williams as one of the best wingers in the world. It was there that he forged a great friendship with Lamine Yamal, another player who rose to football's elite at that tournament.

"Lamine and I were very innocent, we were going our own way and didn't realise what we had generated until I had my holiday. I'm glad I was able to do that with Lamine," he concluded.