By
Arinze Izik
Athletic Club winger Nico Williams has opened up about the sacrifices his parents made to give him and his brother a better life, saying he will forever be grateful for their courage to leave home.
The 24-year-old, who recently renewed his deal with Athletic Club — the only professional team he has played for — was part of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad. He provided the key assist for Ferran Torres in the final against Argentina. Though he missed some game time after picking up an injury against Uruguay, he fought back to finish the tournament strongly.
Off the pitch, Nico says his proudest achievement is the values instilled by his family.
His parents, Maria and Felix, left Ghana in 1994 in search of a new start. Maria was pregnant with their first son, Iñaki, at the time. After a long and difficult journey across several countries, they settled in Spain with nothing.
Nico has spoken before about how tough those early years were. He recalled his mother walking barefoot through the desert during their migration — a memory that still stays with the family. His father also spent long stretches working abroad, including in London, just to provide food and stability at home.
Life in Spain wasn’t easy at first either. The Williams family struggled financially and sometimes went without basic services.
“My parents risked their lives so my brother and I could have a better future. And they did it,” Nico said. “They are fighters. They taught us every day that respect and hard work are earned. Nothing is given to you for free.”
The bond between Nico and Iñaki grew out of those hard times. With a few years between them, Iñaki became a protector and role model for his younger brother — a relationship both say is one of their biggest strengths, on and off the field.
Speaking on the Spanish TV program Salvados, Nico remembered power and water cuts because the bills couldn’t be paid. “It really wasn’t easy,” he admitted.
A later trip to Africa gave him even more perspective. Seeing life there made him reflect on how different his path could have been.
“I’ve been to Africa, and I realized what my life might have looked like if I hadn’t been born here,” he said.
For Nico, the World Cup medal and club success are important, but the story of his parents’ resilience remains what drives him mostly.
