Ghanaian international Inaki Williams has been excluded from Athletic Bilbao’s pre-season squad for their tour in Mexico due to ongoing fitness concerns.
The forward, who plays for the Black Stars, has been recovering from an injury and aims to regain full fitness for the upcoming season.
Williams withdrew from the Black Stars squad for the AFCON qualifiers in June after admitting to playing through pain during the latter part of the 2022/23 season. Although he reported for pre-season training last week, the 29-year-old has not been included in Ernesto Valverde’s squad for the Mexico tour.
Athletic Club has made the decision to allow Williams more time to recover fully before the start of the season, despite positive signs of progress. In the meantime, his younger brother, Nico Williams, and the other twenty-three players have joined manager Ernesto Valverde for the trip to Mexico.
During their tour, Athletic Club will play friendly matches against Chivas and Necaxa before returning to Spain to prepare for the 2023/24 season.
The travelling squad includes goalkeepers Unai Simón and Alex Padilla, defenders Hugo Rincón, Iñigo Lekue, Dani Vivian, Peru Nolaskoain, Unai Egiluz, and Alex Petxarroman, midfielders Unai Vencedor, Mikel Vesga, Beñat Prados, Junior Bita, Unai Gómez, Ander Herrera, and Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, and forwards Raúl García, Iker Muniain, Berenguer, Guruzeta, Adu Ares, Nico Serrano, Javi Martón, Nico Williams, and Morcillo.
