Unai Simon insists he understands why Arsenal and other top European clubs are eyeing a move for Nico Williams.
The attacker is one of the best Spanish talents available and has been in fantastic form for both his club and country for a long time.
Williams is a key player for Spain at Euro 2024, and Arsenal is eager to add him to their squad at the end of the competition.
The Gunners are in the market for new players, and despite having several top attackers, Williams is firmly on their radar.
He signed a new contract with Athletic Bilbao shortly before the Euros and insists he is happy playing for the Spanish club.
However, Arsenal remains eager to sign him and might accelerate their efforts when the Euros end.
Asked about the interest in his club and country teammate, Simon says, as quoted by Estadio Deportivo:
“Nico can play wherever he wants and that’s what he’s going to do. Well, honestly, I think it’s normal that you hear all these rumours that Nico can go to Barca, that he can go to Chelsea, to Arsenal… It’s normal that you hear that because Nico is a player who right now could play in most teams in the world because of what he is showing in this Euros, because of the growth that Athletic have had this season and because he is very decisive in many situations,”
Just Arsenal Opinion
Williams has been one of the best players in Europe and we can understand why the attacker is being followed by other clubs.
We have to do our best to ensure he joins us if there is a slim chance he will change clubs.
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Martinelli is valued higher and with both player playing well, Martinelli will always come out on top. Williams (last valued at £50m to £60 million as of today) has the consistency but, Martinelli on his day is a better player.
That’s why Martinelli is valued between £75 million and £100 million, depending on what player ratings site you believe.
The value attached to a player is largely irrelevant until a firm bid is submitted .As it is I do not believe many neutral fans will go along with the suggestion that Martinelli is superior to Williams, and certainly, based on their performances for their Clubs last season, even as an
Arsenal fan I could not agree with you on this occasion daveg.I think it’s fairly clear from his performances at the Euros that Williams has that elusive x factor which is why he is a first pick for arguably the best National side in Europe whilst Martinelli has not yet become a first choice for a Brazil side which is but a pale shadow of their fabulous teams of the past.
I agree with your opinion Grandad. Unfortunately, Nico is the superior player, even at 2 years younger than Martinelli. Nico has more in his locker, whereas Martinelli mostly uses pace, Nico’s left is better, has more skills, has a better cross. I would trade them in a heartbeat tbh
Martinelli doesn’t mostly uses pace alone, he’s a better finisher compared to Nico.
Respectfully, but I don’t agree at all. If you look at numbers, Martinelli had 6 goals and 6 assists in 36 games in the season he was 21. Nico had 8 goals and 16 assists in 37 games the season he was 21 (last season).
Even though stats don’t say everything of course, I really think that Martinelli is not good at all at finishing tbh. He is very wasteful in front of goal and he doesn’t have a good shot either. I think at 2 years younger, Nico is already the more complete player
Martinelli had a goal conversion of 10% in a tougher league and Nico had a goal conversion of 9% from an easier league. Surprisingly Martinelli had a better goal conversion in a tough league and he was having a bad year by his usual standards.
Martinelli is valued higher for good reason. But Nico is still young and may yet come to the premier and may prove himself, but looking at his constant injuries record from last year, I am not sure he could handle a full year from a tougher league where he will get injured more than la liga.
Nico ii much complete player than matineli
Nico comes from an easier league, no disrespect to la liga.Nico is unproven to play in the premier league, where games come thick and fast and it known world wide to be the most competitive and toughest league in the world.
Also Nico had a good year last year and Martinelli had a bad one, yet Martinelli had an 85% completion pass compared to Nico having 79% and Martinelli got his STATs from a stronger league and he wasn’t even playing well by his usual standards. So all Martinelli is a better technical player and has been proven in the worlds toughest and most competitive league, due to the amount of competive teams you have to play, unlike la liga or the Euros where you have to beat a handful of top teams. If Martinelli dropped down from the premier to an easier league like la liga, he would have scored double figures last year, even though he was having a bad year. It’s all relative.
Nico has age advantage though, but not premier league experience so unproven as of yet.