When María and Félix Williams left Ghana in search of a better life, they never imagined that their two sons would become world stars of football. The family’s journey was marked by sacrifice: they crossed the Sahara Desert, arrived in Spain after a dangerous journey, and started from scratch, taking whatever work they could find to provide for their children.
It was in that context that the bond that now unites Iñaki and Nico Williams was born. Eight years older, Iñaki was not just a brother: he ended up becoming a father figure while his father worked abroad for long stretches to support the family.
Iñaki himself summed it up with a phrase that reflects the responsibility he felt from a very young age: “I used to take him to training, to school, make him sandwiches… Nico has been like a son to me.”
While Nico was just beginning to take his first steps with a ball, Iñaki was already dreaming of making it to Athletic Club’s first team. But that dream was never his alone: he wanted his little brother to be able to follow the same path.
In 2021, the two shared the pitch for the first time wearing the Athletic Club shirt, a moment Iñaki will never forget.
“When Nico made his debut, it was like saying ‘finally.’ Imagine the pride my parents must have felt when they saw us together”, said Iñaki.
After one of Nico’s greatest sporting achievements, Iñaki posted an emotional message that moved thousands of people: “You have touched the sky with your fingertips and shown that with hard work and effort, anything is possible.”