Athletic Bilbao: Nico Williams sends inspirational message ahead of World Cup final
Athletic Bilbao are in the final stretch of pre-season with winger Nico Williams sending a motivational message to his followers. The player shared a photo on his social media alongside a text that reinforces his commitment to the Spanish national team ahead of the World Cup final.
Guruzeta shines with hat-trick in 11-0 thrashing of Leioa
Striker Iñaki Guruzeta was the standout performer in the pre-season friendly against Leioa, where Athletic Bilbao crushed the home side 11-0. The Basque forward netted a hat-trick, while Asier Villalibre, Oihan Sancet and Unai Vencedor each scored twice. The rojiblancos' offensive display underlined their potential ahead of the new LaLiga campaign under Ernesto Valverde.
What did the manager say about the team’s performance?
Ernesto Valverde, Athletic Bilbao’s head coach, was pleased with the level shown in the friendlies. «We’ve seen clear improvements in the team,» he said after the match. Valverde also stressed the importance of players like Unai Simón, Aymeric Laporte and Nico Williams returning home as «world champions» after the World Cup final.
The Basque manager also addressed Iñigo Maroan’s injury, which occurred during the game. «We’ll have to wait to know the exact extent of the injury,» Valverde explained, confirming that Vencedor did not play due to «minor discomfort.»
Upcoming friendlies: Derio and Sarriena next
Athletic Bilbao continue their pre-season with two more friendlies. The first will be against Derio at La Florida, where the team already won 3-0. The second match will take place in Sarriena, with fan activities starting at 11:30 AM and kick-off at 7:30 PM.
Additionally, the rojiblancos will travel to France to face a Ligue 1 opponent at Stade Vélodrome. The club also confirmed interest from other teams in players like Aymeric Laporte, who reaffirmed his love for the club five months ago: «I turned down bigger offers because Athletic is my home.»
Nico Williams: from a broken car window to the World Cup final
In a recent documentary, Nico Williams revealed details of a tough summer in 2025. «When my brother came back from vacation, we found the car window broken,» confessed the winger, who is now focused on the World Cup with Spain. His social media message, paired with a photo in the Spain shirt, reinforces his determination ahead of the decisive match.
