Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney reckons Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams – a Chelsea and Arsenal target – reminds him of a young Cristiano Ronaldo. Williams is currently with Spain at Euro 2024, helping his team reach the final.

The 21-year-old winger is coming off an impressive club season with Bilbao, contributing eight goals and 19 assists in 37 games across competitions. That includes three goals and five assists in six outings in their victorious Copa del Rey campaign, with the other goal contributions coming in 31 games in La Liga.

Williams has continued that form at Euro 2024, with one goal and one assist – both coming in the 4-1 Round-of-16 win over Georgia – in five games propelling La Roja to the final.

Former Manchester United strikers Wayne Rooney (left) and Cristiano RonaldoFormer Manchester United strikers Wayne Rooney (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo

Ahead of the big match with England in Berlin on Sunday (July 14), Rooney has warned the Three Lions about Williams’ threat (as per Metro):

“Williams, for me, is exceptional. He reminds me of Cristiano Ronaldo when Cristiano was young. He’s a big lad. He’ll take the ball and sometimes tries too much but usually makes the right decisions.

“He is an incredible threat in one-on-one situations and scores goals as well. England need to be really careful with him.”

Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s Portugal crashed out of Euro 2024 with a quarter-final shootout defeat (5-3) to France following a goalless 120 minutes.

How Cristiano Ronaldo has fared against Chelsea?
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has a poor record against Chelsea.Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has a poor record against Chelsea.

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the game’s best-ever players, having scored nearly 900 goals for club and country. However, the 39-year-old endured a rare goalless campaign at Euro 2024 – drawing a blank in five games – even though he scored in two shootouts.
Nevertheless, Ronaldo has scored goals galore during his illustrious career spanning more than two decades. However, he scored only twice in 17 games across competitions against Chelsea.

One of those goals came in his lone UEFA Champions League outing against the Blues – in the 2008 final in Moscow – which United won on penalties despite Ronaldo missing in the shootout. His other strike against them came in 12 outings in the Premier League for United.