Stars brother is set to cut a special holiday short to watch his Nico in the final

IF Spain’s Nico Williams wins the Euros tomorrow, he will dedicate it to his dad who used to man the turnstiles at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge.

The Athletic Bilbao winger — one of breakout stars of the tournament — says he owes his success to his parents Felix and Maria who arrived in Spain as refugees in 1994.

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Nico Williams has become at Spanish hero at Euro 2024Credit: Getty

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Williams has said he will dedicate a Spain win to his fatherCredit: Getty

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Nico, left, is the brother of Athletic Bilbao team-mate InakiCredit: Getty

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Their father, Felix, used to man the turnstiles at Stamford BridgeCredit: Rex

His parents made the journey from Accra in Ghana to the Basque Country when she was pregnant with his older brother — and now Athletic team-mate — Inaki.

The family settled in Pamplona, with Nico born there in July 2002.Much of his childhood was spent with his dad away trying to earn money for the family.

When work as a labourer, cleaner and even as a shepherd ran out, Felix went to London to look for a job — leaving three-year-old Nico at home with his mum and brother.

In 2021, Inaki told me: “My dad worked in a shopping centre near Chelsea clearing tables in the food halls or as a security guard, and he got a job tearing tickets at Stamford Bridge.”

Felix was away for a decade, so Nico, who turned 22 yesterday, grew up with big brother as his biggest influence and paternal guide.

The Spain winger told Spanish radio Cope this week: “I’m young and make a lot of mistakes and Inaki is always on top of me giving me advice about football and life.”

Inspired by Spain winning the World Cup in 2010 when he was only eight, Nico would try to emulate his heroes kicking a ball against a wall in the Rochapea neighbourhood.

Playing out on the street together Nico soon showed signs of an even greater talent than his brother.

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Williams has contributed to two goals at Euro 2024Credit: EPA

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Nico and Inaki with mum, MariaCredit: https://www.instagram.com/williaaaams11/?hl=en

Although Inaki — who represents Ghana — recently revealed that on rainy days indoors on the PlayStation there was only one winner.

He told Madrid-based sports website Relevo: “I had to unplug him he was so bad. He could barely hold the controls properly.”

Nico has improved considerably since then and admitted to spending six hours a day on EA Sports’ FC 24 during the tournament.

Local club Osasuna wanted to sign the young Nico but in 2012 Athletic Bilbao swooped for his sibling and a year later they took him too.

It meant being at the same club as Inaki who guided him through the youth ranks all the way to the first team.

Villarreal coach Marcelino, who gave Nico his debut at Bilbao in 2021, said: “Inaki is like a father to Nico because he had to go through all the same things before his brother.

“Nico couldn’t have a better role model.”

That guidance has also helped him deal with the scourge of racist abuse when it has come his way in Spain.

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Inaki was a father figure to Nico growing up while their dad was away working in LondonCredit: https://www.instagram.com/williaaaams11/?hl=en

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Inaki ended up choosing to represent Ghana, where Felix and Maria where originally fromCredit: Getty

He was racially abused at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium last season but there is renewed hope the problem is now being tackled.

Three people were sentenced to eight months in prison and given two-year stadium bans for racially abusing Vinicius Jr during Real Madrid’s game at Valencia in May 2023.

It was the first time a conviction has been made for racist abuse at a football stadium in the whole of Spain.

Nico said this week: “There will be a before and after. When they insult you and get away with it then it encourages more people to do it.

“Now people have seen that the law will take it seriously and act on it.

“In the end, you have to reason with people and make them get to know you. Maybe they don’t know the African culture.

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The family settled in Pamplona, with Nico born there in July 2002Credit: Instagram @williaaaams11

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Now newly-married Inaki is trying to cut his honeymoon short to watch Nico in the Euro 2024 finalCredit: Getty

“I think we have to teach them, let them discover the world, and that will change many mentalities.”

Williams’ performances for Spain have put the whole of Europe on alert for a player whose release clause is just £49m.

He has told his agent he does not want to hear a wordaout his future until the tournament ends tomorrow.

Williams is expected to stay one more season so he can fulfil a dream of representing Athletic in next season’s Europa League.

It is going to be hard to wrench him away from the Basque region where his parents settled 22 years ago.

They will be at the final against England. Brother Inaki, 30, will be there too.

He was married at the start of June and Nico was granted permission from his Spain coach Luis de la Fuente to leave Euro 2024 preparations to make the ceremony.

Now it is Inaki requesting to cut short his honeymoon with wife Patricia to watch his brother play the biggest game of his life.