Djaló: "The Williams brothers have broken down the door for people of colour here"

Álvaro Djaló is living a dream. The Zurigorri forward, who has lived in the Bilbao neighbourhood of Otxarkoaga since he was two months old, has returned home after a productive period in Portugal, where he moved to as a 17-year-old with the goal of becoming a professional footballer.

"I'm very happy to be back home, with my parents, my family and my friends," says Djaló. "My teammates have welcomed me very well, you can see that it's a very close-knit group."

The recent Athletic signing fondly remembers his first "mini matches" with friends in Otxarkoaga's main square.

He said:  "We played in the street until late, until the sun went down. If we went up to the house to drink water, the pool was over... Those were good times. Nowadays it's rare to see kids playing football outside, they're on their mobile phones all the time. I enjoyed that time of learning to play football in the street with freedom."

Djaló's first team was Berriotxoa Fútbol Sala de Santutxu, where he joined at the age of 10, and later he moved on to 11-a-side football with UD San Miguel.

He later joined SD Begoña's under-17s. His family, from Guinea-Bissau, has always been very grateful to Bilbao and its residents for how they've been accepted.

"Bilbao and its people helped my parents a lot. Whether you like it or not, everyone here loves Athletic and you get attached to the team," he added.

Djaló pointed out the role Iñaki Williams played in his relationship with Athletic.

"I have always said it and I keep saying it. Thanks to him, to his work and dedication, he has opened many doors for people of colour here.

"In my case, it was a reflection of what I could do. We all have to be very thankful to the Williams brothers because they have broken down the door."

Djaló admitted that he "didn't think twice" about moving abroad at just 17 years of age, saying: "I wanted to be a player and reach the elite, to be able to play in European competitions and play against the best. I took the risk with a clear objective: to work hard and work to make the leap."

Álvaro made his Champions League debut at Sporting Clube de Braga, playing five games and scoring two goals in the competition.

"When I was a kid I used to tell my friends that one day I would play in the Champions League. They joked about it. I made it and the first time I heard the anthem I got goosebumps. I thought: 'I've come so far and still got more to go.'"

This season Álvaro will be experience European action with Athletic.

He said: "It will be nice to see after so many years. I feel the team is very united, we're all rowing in the same direction, and I think it's going to be very important in a year with so many competitions. Also, the fact that the final will be in San Mamés is extra motivation for everyone."

Djaló concluded by saying that Athletic will "have to be at their best this season" due to the "great number of matches".

"Here, both the coaches and the players, everyone is an Athletic fan. We're going to have to work hard because we have a long and special season coming up with some very important matches.