Inaki Williams’ journey with the Ghanaian national football team has not been as successful as his club career with Athletic Bilbao, and La Liga legend Raul Garcia has offered insight into why.

Williams, born in the Basque region of Spain, made the decision to switch his international allegiance to Ghana in 2022, debuting for the Black Stars in a friendly against Brazil. Since then, the forward has made 17 appearances but has scored just once for Ghana—a stark contrast to his flamboyant club form. Over the same period, Williams played a key role in helping Athletic Bilbao secure their first Copa del Rey title in four decades, adding two Spanish Super Cups to his collection.

Garcia, a former teammate of Williams at Athletic Bilbao, believes that the striker’s struggles with Ghana are largely due to the challenges of adapting to a new team and environment. The pair spent years together at Bilbao, forming a deep understanding on the field, which made their club collaboration smoother. However, the national team setup presents a different challenge.

“I think Inaki will find his feet with Ghana eventually,” Garcia told LALIGA Press. “It’s not easy when you’re playing with a new team. There’s the issue of long travel times for international matches, and not having a deep connection with your teammates. We have all known each other for years at Bilbao, but with Ghana, he’s still settling in.”

Despite the struggles, Garcia is confident that Williams’ determination will lead to success with Ghana. “He’s a player who wants to do things the right way, and I’m sure he’ll find his form soon,” Garcia added. “Inaki has a lot to offer, and I believe his time with Ghana will come.”

While Williams continues to search for consistency with his national team, his domestic form this season has been impressive, with four goals and five assists in 18 La Liga appearances as Bilbao sits comfortably in fourth place.