Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde says they were keen to keep Inaki Williams for their league game against Sevilla on Thursday night.

The forward was cleared to leave for Ghana last night following further tests on him by the club's medics who had earlier claimed the player was suffering from an illness.

Inaki missed the opening two days of Ghana's camping in Kumasi as a result of the aforementioned issue but is expected to be with his teammates on Thursday.

Speaking ahead of the fixture against the Seville-based side, Valverde explained the decision behind the Basque club's delay in releasing the Ghana international for camping ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

"Each one always wants to pull towards his side, we wanted [Inaki Williams] to be here," he told the press.

"[Ghana] have preparation to play for a match on the 14th. We don’t have much say."

Inaki, 29, has eight goals and three assists across all competitions for Athletic Club this campaign.