Last Updated on September 10, 2026 by Gabriel

Unai Núñez Gestoso is a Spanish professional footballer born in Sestao, Biscay, on January 30, 1997. Raised in Portugalete, the central defender comes from a footballing family: his father, Abel Núñez, and his older brother, Asier Núñez, both played the same position.
Unai has also established a family of his own. He married Cintia Roldán in June 2025, and the couple have a daughter named Gara.
Who is Unai Núñez’s wife?
Unai Núñez’s wife is Cintia Roldán. The couple maintained a relatively private relationship before celebrating their wedding in June 2025.
The wedding took place on Spain’s Costa Brava and was attended by relatives, friends and several of Unai’s current and former teammates. Guests reportedly included Óscar de Marcos, Markel Susaeta, Iñigo Córdoba and Javi Morcillo.
Before the ceremony, Núñez had described Cintia as his future wife and an important source of personal support. While playing on loan for Athletic Club during the 2024–25 season, he explained that returning to the Basque Country allowed him to spend more time with his partner, daughter and childhood family.
Cintia does not appear to seek the same public attention as her footballer husband. Consequently, detailed information about her profession, childhood and parents remains limited.
How many children does Unai Núñez have?
Unai Núñez and Cintia Roldán have one publicly known child, a daughter named Gara.
Gara was born in 2024. In March 2025, Unai described his then 11-month-old daughter as the best gift he had received and said that watching her grow was especially rewarding.
The defender also explained that spending time with his daughter helped him disconnect from the pressures of professional football. Núñez and Cintia have not disclosed extensive information about Gara, protecting her privacy while she is still young.
There are no reliable reports indicating that the couple have additional children as of now.
Who are Unai Núñez’s parents?
Unai Núñez’s father, Abel Núñez
Abel Núñez is Unai’s father and a former footballer. Born in Galicia, Abel moved to the Basque Country when he was young and played as a central defender during the 1980s and 1990s.
He was particularly associated with Barakaldo CF, although he also represented other clubs during his playing career. After leaving professional football, Abel reportedly became the owner of a bar in Portugalete.
Abel’s experience as a defender influenced both of his sons. Unai and his older brother Asier followed him into football and also played primarily in central defence.
Unai has spoken positively about the support he receives from his parents. His father’s knowledge of the game would have been especially valuable as he progressed from youth football to Athletic Club’s academy.
Unai Núñez’s mother
The name of Unai Núñez’s mother has not been widely disclosed in established public sources. She helped raise Unai and Asier in Portugalete but has generally remained outside the media spotlight.
Unai has referred collectively to the unconditional support provided by his parents. However, he has not publicly revealed extensive details about his mother’s profession or personal background.
Who is Unai Núñez’s brother?
Unai Núñez has an older brother named Asier Núñez, who was born in 1993. Asier is also a footballer and, like his father and younger brother, played as a central defender.
Asier represented several clubs in the lower divisions of Spanish football, including Club Portugalete, Cultural Durango, SD Balmaseda, JD Somorrostro and Zalla UC.
The physical resemblance and shared surname occasionally led people to confuse the two brothers. However, Unai went on to establish himself in La Liga and represent Spain, while Asier spent most of his career in regional and lower-division football.
No additional brothers or sisters have been reliably identified in public sources.
A family of central defenders
Defending is a family tradition for the Núñez family. Abel played as a centre-back, and both Asier and Unai followed him into the same position.
Unai began his development with Danok Bat before joining Athletic Club’s Lezama academy in 2007, when he was ten. He progressed through Basconia and Bilbao Athletic before making his senior Athletic debut in August 2017.
His father’s experience and his brother’s involvement in football meant that Unai grew up in a household familiar with the demands of the sport. He has maintained close ties to his parents and Asier despite playing for clubs outside the Basque Country.
Unai Núñez’s relationship with his family
Núñez has described his family as an important source of stability. During his return to Athletic Club for the 2024–25 season, he appreciated being close to his parents, brother, future wife and young daughter.
His comments showed that family life offered him relief from the pressure and uncertainty surrounding professional football. His wedding to Cintia in June 2025 marked another important stage in his personal life.
Although Cintia, Gara and his relatives occasionally appear in media coverage, Núñez generally avoids revealing unnecessary private information about them.
Frequently asked questions about Unai Núñez’s family
Who is Unai Núñez’s wife?
Unai Núñez is married to Cintia Roldán. The couple celebrated their wedding on the Costa Brava in June 2025.
Does Unai Núñez have children?
Yes. Unai and Cintia have a daughter named Gara, who was born in 2024.
Who is Unai Núñez’s father?
His father is Abel Núñez, a former central defender who played primarily for Barakaldo CF and later became a business owner in Portugalete.
Who is Unai Núñez’s mother?
His mother’s name and personal background have not been widely disclosed in reliable public sources.
Does Unai Núñez have a brother?
Yes. His older brother, Asier Núñez, also played football as a central defender.
Does Unai Núñez have a sister?
No sister has been identified in reputable public sources.
Where did Unai Núñez grow up?
Although he was born in Sestao, Núñez grew up in the Repélega neighbourhood of Portugalete, Biscay.

Gabriel Lucio is a football analyst covering La Liga, focusing on match analysis, tactical trends, and the race for domestic and European positions.
