Inaki Williams has shown incredible dedication and resilience on the field, even while playing with a piece of glass embedded in his foot for the past two years.
Despite the discomfort and pain, the Athletic Bilbao’s forward continued to perform at a high level until recently when the lingering issue began to affect his game.
Athletic manager, Ernesto Valverde, shared the shocking revelation that Williams had suffered an accident two years ago involving a broken glass that resulted in the foreign object becoming lodged in his foot.
Initially, Williams dealt with the injury and soldiered on without realizing the extent of the issue.
However, after ongoing struggles and discomfort in recent months, a scan following the Copa del Rey final revealed the presence of the 2cm glass fragment.
Valverde explained that the piece of glass was located dangerously close to a bone or tendon, making its removal necessary for Williams’ well-being and future performance.
In his press conference ahead of Saturday’s trip to Estadio de Vallecas, Valverde said: “We did a scan after the final, and we discovered that he still had some glass in his foot.”
“When they stitched him up the first time, they left the glass in there. In addition, it’s not a small piece, it’s about 2cm. It was next to a bone or a tendon, but we had to extract it.”
The fact that the glass had been left inside Williams’ foot during the initial treatment is a bizarre and surprising detail that has amazed both the manager and the medical team.
Williams rarely misses a game for Athletic and once went on 251 consecutive matches without an absence.
Valverde added: “The truth is that myself and the doctor were laughing because we couldn’t believe it.”
Despite the unusual circumstances, Williams’ commitment to his team and the sport has not wavered, and his determination to play through the pain speaks volumes about his character and professionalism.
The 29-year-old Ghanaian International will miss the final game of the season against Rayo Vallecano today, May 25.
Meanwhile, Bilbao manager Ernesto Valverde confirmed to reporters on Friday afternoon that Williams is currently recovering from surgery after struggling with an ongoing foot problem.
With the glass finally removed after successful surgery, fans can look forward to seeing a fully healthy and revitalized Inaki Williams back on the field, ready to continue making an impact for the Athletic Club.
Inaki Williams’ club career
Having come through the ranks of Athletic Bilbao’s academy, he has accumulated more than 400 first-team appearances for the club, breaking a La Liga record with 251 consecutive games netting 121 goals with 63 assists.
His notable achievements include scoring the decisive goal in the 2020-21 Supercopa de España and winning the Copa del Rey in 2023-24.
His international stats
Born to Ghanaian parents in Spain, Williams earned his first cap for the Spain national team in 2016.
However, in 2022, he decided to switch allegiances and represent Ghana on the international stage.
He was included in Ghana’s squad for the 2022 World Cup and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. His younger brother, Nico, is also a player for Athletic Bilbao and the Spain national team.
