Arsenal target Nico Williams modelled game and look on Crystal Palace legend | Football

Athletic Bilbao and Spain star Nico Williams looked to some big names as he developed his game: Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and…Wilfried Zaha.

Still just 22 years old, Williams has racked up over 150 appearances for Athletic and won 24 caps for his country.

His performances have seen him strongly linked with the likes of Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea, with big bids expected to come in this summer.

Unsurprisingly the wide forward watched the likes of Ronaldo and Neymar as he progressed towards first team football, but Zaha is a slightly less predictable idol.

Williams was such a fan of the former Crystal Palace star that he not only modelled his game on him, but also his hair.

Speaking to France Football on who he modelled his style of play on, he said: ‘Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo. I loved that type of attacker.

‘And Wilfried Zaha, who I’ve not named yet. I loved him when he was at Crystal Palace. He was a player I loved. I cut my hair to look like him.

‘I tried to dribble like them, copy them to the maximum and to move like them. To do 5 per cent of what they’ve done…’

Williams won Euro 2024 with Spain last summer, scoring in the final against England as he cemented his place as an international superstar.

A move to Barcelona looked very much on the cards, but he remained with Athletic Bilbao, a club he joined in 2013, and has deep affection for.

‘This relationship we have at the heart of the club is incredible,’ he said. ‘Everyone respects everyone else, which is incredible.

‘This atmosphere, I’ll never have it anywhere else. I decided to stay because of that.

‘I took the decision I thought was the right one. I’m happy and I’m trying to do my best.’

Whether he is still at the San Mames next season is yet to be seen, as interest in him has not coolled.

Arsenal are expected to make big moves in the transfer market this summer, wanting a winger and a striker, with Williams very much on their radar.

The Basque winger has not been prolific in his career so far, yet to score double figures in a season and only on six goals in all competitions so far this campaign.

However, the Gunners feel that, along with another option at centre-forward, he could be part of a fearsome front line with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard just behind.

Williams will be hoping to fire Athletic into the quarter-finals of the Europa League next week as the Basque side host Roma in the second leg of their last 16 tie after losing 2-1 in Italy.

The final of the tournament will be held at the San Mames this year, so there is no shortage of motivation for the Athletic stars to go all the way to the showpiece.

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