One was born in Bilbao, the other was born in Pamplona; one plays for the Spanish team, the other for Ghana; They both play for Athletic Club de Bilbao and both have decided to bring their fascinating life to the small screen at the hands of Cero Coma Producciones, the new Fremantle label, and Kanaki Films, according to what EL MUNDO has learned exclusively.

They are Iñaki Williams (28 years old), the veteran and renowned striker for Athletic Club Bilbao, and his little brother Nico Williams (20 years old), one of the brightest young promises in world football. Both of them, players of one of the most prestigious teams in the Spanish soccer league, face the greatest challenge of their careers and, probably, of their lives: to be the protagonists of their story in a documentary directed by Raúl de la Fuente.

“The Williams tells the story of a family that risks their lives first to survive and then to prosper,” De la Fuente tells this newspaper. Iñaki and Nico’s childhood was not easy. His parents, recently arrived in our country with hardly any money, were forced to work endless days. The father had to emigrate to London. Iñaki, 8 years older, became a father to Nico. Neighborhood life, a lot of streets and soccer since they practically started walking. That ‘hunger’ during their childhood has led them to fight to succeed in professional soccer and help their whole family,” he says.

Iñaki and Nico Williams star in an exciting story about migration, identity, family and racism

They are not the first athletes nor will they be the last to let the cameras record every step they take for weeks and, in addition, capture their entire story. There is Sergio Ramos, Andrés Iniesta, Lance Armstrong, Fernando Alonso… They are not only sports stars but they are characters that generate impressive media interest. Everyone wants to know how their lives were, how they are now, and how they could become. The other side of the star. And in the case of the Williams brothers, despite their youth, much more because the history of the Williams is by no means a story to use.

“Iñaki and Nico Williams star in an exciting story about migration, identity, family and racism,” explains de la Fuente.

The feature film, directed by the multi-award-winning Spanish director Raúl de la Fuente, winner of the Goya for Best Animated Feature Film in 2019 for One More Day of Life, among many others, will show the lives of these two brothers who have fulfilled a dream within reach of very few: playing a World Cup in two different teams, Ghana and Spain, after overcoming multiple personal challenges.

“This film motivates me personally because in these cynical times, overflowing with materialism, the protagonists, two young black soccer players from Athletic Club Bilbao, propose us a trip to the heart of Africa to look at ourselves in our relationship with the different “explains the manager.

And, precisely, these personal challenges are what make the Williams brothers’ documentary acquire a degree of relevance more than any other sportsman’s documentary. Kanaki and Fremantle have had unique and exclusive access to the lives of athletes and those around them that will reveal a story unknown to the international public.

“I feel like it’s time to find my roots and all that Ghana and Africa mean to me and my family.” This is how Iñaki Williams communicated, a few months ago, his signing for the Ghanaian national team, a decision made from maturity and from the heart.

Iñaki and Nico were born in Bilbao and Pamplona respectively after their parents managed to reach Spain from Ghana by crossing the Sahara desert and jumping over the Melilla fence. María, her mother, then pregnant with Iñaki, and Félix, his father, were detained at the border. Despite this, the couple received political asylum after confessing that they were fleeing the civil war in Liberia and receiving help from a Basque priest, Iñaki, who took them to northern Spain. Thus begins the story of these two young Basque-Navarrese, “beltzas”, proud of their origins.

“Soccer is not an easy world when you try to get out of the pure sporting event,” says Fernando Jerez, director of Cero Coma Producciones. “Soccer players have an overexposure in the media and on social networks that makes it difficult for them to open up beyond the sport they play. In addition, this football season has been very special: racism has emerged as one of the most controversial issues, and social media have shown their worst side on many occasions”.

Iñaki made the decision to play for the national team of his roots, even though he was aware not only that he is one of the most charismatic players, but also one of the most beloved in the Spanish league. At 28, he is still one of the fastest forwards on the world soccer scene. He debuted in the Spanish team in 2016 and in 2021 he broke a La Liga record by managing to chain 203 consecutive games played.

Football is not an easy world when you try to get out of the pure sporting event

On the other side and with the same blood, Nico, one of the athletes of the moment, even more so after the World Cup in Qatar. With a great La Liga with Athletic Bilbao, the World Cup has only confirmed that the youngest of the Williams has had one of the most spectacular irruptions of a young player in world football.

Raised somewhat by his brother Iñaki, due to the harsh situation of his parents at home, he insists that the time has come to “fly on your own and mark your own destiny in football.”

The production will travel for a year between Ghana, Angola, Qatar, the Basque Country, Navarra and Madrid. Kanaki and Fremantle have unique and exclusive access to the lives of athletes and those around them that will reveal a story unknown to the international public.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project