Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has admitted he dislikes being famous, to the extent that he once walked out of a supermarket after being recognised and asked for a selfie. The 30-year-old forward much prefers to focus on his football rather than build his profile away from the game.
This raises a simple question: has Watkins chosen the wrong profession? If he feels uncomfortable with some of the trappings of being a superstar for England and Aston Villa, his problems could be about to get much worse.
Chance to Make History
On Wednesday night in Istanbul, Watkins will step out for Villa at the Tupras Stadium with the chance to write his name into club folklore and elevate himself onto the pantheon of Villa legends. Should he help Villa beat Freiburg to win the Europa League, his life will never be the same again. He will have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
The last man to score the winning goal that saw Villa conquer Europe has never had to buy a drink in Birmingham since 1982. That was Peter Withe, who scored the only goal as Villa defeated Bayern Munich to claim the European Cup. A huge banner marking that moment became part of the furniture at Villa Park, a result of the club's most celebrated occasion.
Whatever happens and whatever consequences follow, it won't be lost on Watkins that moments like these don't come around often. Watkins wasn't even born when Withe achieved that feat, but he is no stranger to seizing the moment.
World Stage Hero
His late goal to sink Holland and fire England into the Euro 2024 final transported him onto the world stage. However, it was a moment Watkins has struggled to build on, through no fault of his own, considering Harry Kane still occupies the lead striker role for the Three Lions. England's loss has been Villa's gain.
Watkins has spent this season reminding the sceptics he can still perform at the highest level and that there can be life without Kane. He has scored 19 goals in all competitions, remaining one of the best English forwards in the Premier League. The shy and retiring bloke from Devon has continued to make noise, albeit on the pitch rather than off it.
Shunning the Spotlight
Watkins once saw how fame and fortune affected former Villa team-mate Jack Grealish and admitted he never wanted to be like him in terms of the scrutiny and intrusion Grealish still faces regularly. This was one reason Watkins was reluctant to join Manchester United last summer when the English giants expressed interest.
But if Watkins helps Villa bring home their first trophy in more than three decades this week, before heading to the World Cup with England, he might have no choice but to embrace the attention heading his way. Whether he likes it or not, the quiet life he still craves will become a thing of the past, and there will be little he can do about it.
