Ernesto Valverde Discloses Inaki Williams Played with Glass Shard in Foot for Two Years

Athletic Club head coach Ernesto Valverde has disclosed that star striker Iñaki Williams has been playing with a hidden glass shard in his foot for an astounding two years.

The discovery came to light during a recent surgery to address a painful scar on Iñaki’s left foot, when doctors uncovered a two-centimeter shard of glass embedded in the sole.

Iñaki himself shared an image of the removed object on his Instagram stories, shedding light on the remarkable ordeal he endured without even realizing it.

According to Valverde, the bizarre situation originated two years ago when Iñaki sustained a deep foot wound while on vacation, inadvertently stepping on a piece of glass. Despite the foreign object lodged in his foot, Iñaki achieved remarkable feats on the pitch, including breaking records for consecutive games played and winning the Copa del Rey.

“Iñaki Williams has broken a record for consecutive games played and has won a Copa del Rey whilst having a two-centimeter glass stuck in the sole of his foot,” Valverde marveled, highlighting the striker’s incredible resilience and determination.

Valverde further revealed the extent of Iñaki’s ordeal, explaining that the discomfort in his scar prompted medical attention after the Copa del Rey final in April. Subsequent tests revealed the presence of the glass shard, which had dangerously approached the bone or tendon.

“The doctor and I started laughing because we couldn’t believe it,” Valverde recalled, reflecting on the surreal nature of the discovery.

Despite the challenges posed by the glass shard, Iñaki has remained a formidable force on the pitch, scoring 14 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions this season. However, the striker will be sidelined for Athletic Club’s final league game against Rayo Vallecano as he continues his recovery from surgery.