Adama: “I feel proud to play for Athletic”

Athletic Club full-back Adama Boiro, 22, admitted he is "living a dream" at Los Leones and that he is paying close attention to his teammates in order "to keep learning and improving".

The young defender joined Athletic reserve team from CA Osasuna in the 2023/24 winter transfer window. After spending pre-season with the senior side, he has already made three first-team appearances and is keen to get more.

"It [the transfer] suprised me because of the timing, but I didn't have any doubts," Adama said ahead of Saturday's home match against RCD Espanyol. "I'm very happy. I feel very proud to be an Athletic player, I'm living a dream.

"It's a big leap, the players are of much higher quality and it's important to be patient. I have some magnificent teammates of great quality and I watch them to keep learning and improving.

"Lezama is one of the best academies in LaLiga because of how they work with the youth team and how they look after you."

Adama was born in the Senegalese capital of Dakar but moved to Pamplona as a four-year-old, where he developed his passion for football.

He said: “When I was five I started playing for San Jorge and I played with Nico [Williams] for a year, he went to Pamplona and I went to Ardoi."

What's more the no.32 acknowledged that Iñaki Williams has long been a hero of his, saying: "I've looked up to Iñaki since I was a child. The truth is it's really exciting to see him in the training sessions here every day.

"We come from similar backgrounds and I want to follow in his footsteps." 

To conclude, Adama reiterated that there is no room for racism in football when asked about the abuse Athletic youngster Elijah Gift received on Wednesday evening.

"It is not something that I personally have ever experienced, but I think it's a shameful incident that has no place in our society," he said.