In the summer of 2017, Barcelona have already finalized the acquisition of Inigo Martinez from Real Sociedad. Coach Ernesto Valverda unequivocally demanded the signing of the Basque brake, which he marked as an ideal partner for Gerard Pique in the center of defense. “Either Martins, or nothing,” he clarified to Blaugrana management, and at one point it was reported in the media that the deal was in fact closed. However, as the days passed in August it became clear that this was not the case, and everything exploded in the end. The Catalans refused to pay the € 32 million that appeared in the release clause in the star’s contract, and Martinez was forced to stay in San Sebastian.
Tomorrow (Sunday, 22:00): Barcelona will host Athletic Bilbao. The game, like all Spanish league games, will be broadcast on channel ONE for HOT subscribers, yes subscribers, Cellcom TV and Partner TV.
According to sources quoted by the generally trusted El Pais newspaper, it was Javier Mascherano who torpedoed the move. The Argentine arrived for a meeting with President Josep Maria Bartomeu, expressed to him concern about harming his status and got what he wanted. In addition, management had doubts about the economic viability. Although Barça just received 222 million euros from Paris Saint-Germain for Neymar, they wanted to allocate a significant part of the amount to bring Filippa Coutinho from Liverpool. Mascherano was seen as a good option, and on hold was Colombian Jerry Mina, who was set to cost just € 9 million. Add to that the way in which Real Sociedad president Yukin Afribai persuaded Barcelona to refrain from buying and refused to reduce the financial demands, and you will understand how frustrated Valverda remains.
Martin’s rage. He had already mentally prepared himself for the big move to Camp Nou, and did not know about the behind-the-scenes happenings. When it became clear to him that Barcelona had given up on him, he blamed it first and foremost on Aribay and Real Sociedad. “They cheated on me. The president promised not to stand in my way if there was an opportunity to upgrade, and he did not keep his word. It was a critical moment for me at my age, and I had to take an opportunity that might not come back. I can not trust this club anymore,” he clarified. . Half a year later, in January 2018, he showed when he willingly moved to the most sworn regional rival, Athletic Bilbao, who agreed to pay the same € 32 million to fill the void left by American LaPorte when he left for Manchester City.
Entered the Pantheon with two goals from half the field
It is easy to see why Valverda appreciated him so much, and why Bilbao was happy to make him the most valuable player in its history. Since making his Real Sociedad debut in 2011, he has been one of the best and most stable brakes in the Spanish league – a leader, intelligent, tough, reads the game fantastically, and has a great left foot who knows how to send accurate dedication to any range. Immediately after bursting into consciousness, Martinez even made very big headlines thanks to two insane goals in kicks from half of his pitch, in the style of Xavi Alonso. In October 2011 he did so in a derby against Bilbao, and in November thus scored the winning goal for the Betis network during injuries. It was an inconceivable performance, and Antoine Griezmann – who missed Pendel in that game – almost suffocated Martinez with happiness.
He was unable to recreate these works of art, but fame seemed to await him. Martinez was a confident car player at the European Championships for young teams in Israel in 2013, and also demonstrated good ability in the final against Italy at Teddy Stadium. Real Sociedad could not have been imagined without him in those years, but in the national team he did not get the attention he deserved, and at one point it was clear that a move was needed. When the Barcelona deal fell at the age of 26, anger at Real Sociedad caused him to break the promise never to play for Bilbao, which he gave to fans in San Sebastian. Naturally, he was defined as a traitor, and the club responded with record speed – immediately after the move Real Sociedad called on fans to return the shirts with Martinez’s name on the back, and get a free shirt with another star. “The goal is to erase every trace of Inigo from our history,” they openly claimed.
Lost two cup finals in two weeks
For Martinez, it was a return to the roots, because he was born near Bilbao and supported Athletic as a child. He ignored the hustle and bustle around him, became a fan favorite in San Mames, and took the lead in the home front – but alongside being a very famous figure in the Basque Country, in the international arena he remains quite anonymous. Ask an average fan outside of Spain, and there is a reasonable basis that he has never heard of Martinez at all. It happened, among other things, that the competition in the team meant that he never represented it in a big tournament. In light of this, it takes extraordinary courage to give up on his initiative to participate in Euro 2020, but that is exactly what the brake did.
By the end of last season he had arrived exhausted, mostly mentally, and April was a most traumatic month for him. Bilbao then played in two finals of the King’s Cup – the one of 2020 which was postponed a year due to the Corona plague, and that of 2021. Fate wished, and he faced the two most important rivals for him – the mythological ex and the team that gave up – and the business ended in two most painful losses. Against Real Sociedad, in the rare Basque derby in the final, Martinez caused Pendel to blame Bilbao for a clumsy offense, and his team surrendered 1-0. Immediately afterwards, Barça left it with no chance with a crushing 0: 4 in the second final. And it was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Gave up the European Championship to escape depression
It was precisely when he finally made his way to Luis Enrique’s squad, and partnered in many qualifiers, that Martinez declared that he could not take part in the European Championship. “It’s hard to write this, but I can not give 100 percent of myself physically and mentally. I realized I have to be fair with myself and my teammates, and give up. I have to rest, disconnect and recharge to be strong again. I notified the national coach, and I know it “For the benefit of all. I will support the team from home, and next season I will return to try to get the most out of it, and get the coach to invite me to the squad again,” he posted – and received wall-to-wall support.
In the months that followed, Martinez bravely revealed the mental difficulties, and discovered that he was on the verge of depression. “Fans are not always aware of the pressures we put on. Slowly and gradually, everything fills up, and you just say enough. I did not enjoy football anymore. When the head is not functioning, the legs can not move. I was helped by my family, but also by outside help. “It turned out yes. I was in a difficult situation, which is normal. It’s something that could happen. I recovered and recovered, and I was able to come back,” he said in September.
Mighty on defense, and also conquering on offense
In retrospect, it is quite clear that Martinez’s choice was right. The time-out he took in the summer allowed him to recover, and he returned to the pitches with motivation at its peak. Meanwhile, this is probably the best season of his life, he has indeed returned to the team in the World Cup qualifiers, and Bilbao has conceded just 11 goals in 19 league games in which he has been a partner. In the Copa del Rey, she knocked out both Barcelona and Real Madrid on the way to the semi-finals, and very much hopes to qualify for the final for the third time in a row. The brake is even more dominant than before – the young Bilbao players look at him with admiration. And if that’s not enough, then offensively Martins also has something to sell, and he has already equaled his personal season record of 4 goals in all competitions.
Amusingly, half of them were scored for the Barcelona network. Martinez has long longed to avenge the Catalans for the 2017 summer events and highlight how much Coutinho’s wait for Gender and signing has not paid off – and now it’s happening. In the league game in August, the brakeman hit his first goal of his career against Barça, at home 1-1. A month ago, the second goal, with a strange push into the net while sitting, came in Bilbao’s victory over the Catalans in the cup, 2: 3. It was especially sweet.
On Sunday, a third meeting awaits him against Blaugrana this season, and Bilbao comes to him with a huge boost, after breaking up Real Sociedad 0: 4 in the previous round in the previous round. At the age of 30, Martinez has already come to terms with the fact that he will never play for a luxury team, but his desire to succeed big at San Mames has only intensified, and if he wins at Camp Nou it will be possible to seriously dream of qualifying for the Champions League. After all, since the 1970s Bilbao has not had a home front that has displayed such impressive absorption figures. Against Barça in its current version, the ambition is to come out with three points, for the first time since 2001, and who knows – maybe the brake will score for the third time? And maybe he should try to do the half court, like a decade ago?