One of FC Barcelona’s first signings this season, Basque centre-back Iñigo Martínez (Ondarroa, 32 years old) appeared at the Ciudad Deportiva Joan Gamper this Thursday afternoon. The former Athletic Club player comes freely to Can Barça to show that with his competitive nature and experience, more than 350 games in La Liga, he can help the young Culé squad: “When I compete, I change much, I will show.” the pitch. I can contribute a lot to the team in terms of competitiveness. There are many young people who also have to learn. I come to help, to learn and to teach, to be able to play and to give the club what it deserves.” He also confirmed that from the first call from Xavi he knew: “If Barça call you, the rest of the teams are in the background.” When Xavi called me, his words to me were great and he showed me that he wanted me on his team.” The club’s president, Joan Laporta, also sent a few words of thanks to the Ondarroa player: “We are very proud to have a player of your talent, experience and character; We know you will strengthen our defense and the manager (Xavi) is delighted to have you signed and so are we.”
Before the press conference, he signed his contract at the club’s office, to later do so publicly in front of the media alongside president Joan Laporta, and finally sported the Barcelona colors for the first time. A shirt that had his name printed on it but not his number as like Ikay Gundogan he is not yet registered in La Liga due to the club’s financial situation which continues with the inflated payroll. However, this matter does not worry the Basque centre-back in the least: “They have told me about the situation from day one and I am absolutely reassured; I continue to do what is mine, which is to do my job to the best of my ability, and others will take care of it (registration),” says Iñigo Martínez, who was already in Barça’s orbit a few years ago and has a special illusion of playing the champions League: “I come to a club where they play in these competitions and I really want to experience these games because there is nothing better.”
Although Iñigo Martínez was delighted with his arrival at the club, he has yet to train with the rest of the group due to a plantar fasciitis he has been suffering from for a year. In fact, a small operation was made in May to put an end to the pain: “It’s a complicated injury because it’s a discomfort that lasts for a while, although I’m much better, I hope to be with the team soon to be able to.” I’m the first one who wants to play now; but they told me that there was no rush because the first thing to do was to recover.
Adding to these inconveniences, the centre-back has a defensive back line that has established itself as one of the best in the Spanish league this year, with Araujo and Christensen as starting centre-backs. “I know where I come from and what I have to do. We come to win and fight for our position, but we always think about the team. There is a very good line of defence. They’ve been proving it for several years. I suffered from them as a rival,” says Martínez, who also believes that Barça’s team is better than Real Madrid’s, as Joan Laporta said in a recent interview. “It doesn’t even need to be confirmed because they showed last year that they were the best; and I have no doubt that this year we will be the same or better.”
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