Photo: LLUIS GENE / Getty Images
Defender Iñigo Martínez, a new FC Barcelona player, assured this Thursday in his official presentation with the current champion of the Spanish league, that the confidence of coach Xavi Hernández as another influential factor in his decision.
The central signed his new contract (until June 30, 2025 and with a termination clause of 400 million euros) together with the president Joan Laporta, who also presented Martínez with his card as a member of the club.
Laporta highlighted “the experience” and “the character” of the new Barcelona reinforcement, “a very desired player” by all levels of the club: “At Barça we compete to win, but we also ask Iñigo for a plus so that he can be a motivator and show the skills he has shown as a defense organizer”.
Martinez, for his part, assured that it will be “a pride” and “a pleasure” to play in “the best team in the world”, and thanked “the trust” placed in him. “I hope to return it on the pitch. I have no doubt that it is going to be a great year.“He assured before donning the Barça first kit to demonstrate his ability with the ball and pose in front of the graphic press.
In the subsequent press conference, the football director, Mateu Alemany, stated that Barcelona already thought last summer of the Basque central defender as a future reinforcement before the imminent retirement of Gerard Piqué and since they contacted their agent in January they noticed “a total predisposition”.
“The great advantage of Iñigo is that he will have an immediate adaptation. He masters all facets of the game and has all the characteristics to be a Barça player. his leadership capacity is unquestionable”, he added.
Martínez then took the floor and explained that it didn’t take him long to decide on Barcelona: “When Barcelona calls you, your eyes make you small. From the first call I did not hesitate. Xavi’s words were magnificent, he has always shown that he wants me here and that is appreciated”.
“Many players from the national team were also related and they only had good words. That helps to take the step. There are healthy people, wanting to help and keep growing in the dressing room”complete.
The central defender, who is still recovering from an injury to the fascia of his foot, acknowledged having undergone “a small intervention” after the last course after “a year dragging discomfort”, and although he stressed that he notices “a great improvement”, “the feelings are good” and hopes to “do things soon with the team”, he did not want to specify a recovery time.
“I have been doing this for many years. There are many young people who need to learn from others and I come to help. One of the characteristics that I like to say that I have the most is my way of competing and transmitting to my partner the desire to always win”, he affirmed when asked if he could act as a leader as a newcomer.
Iñigo is not afraid of not being able to be registered by FC Barcelona
The former Athletic player assured that He is not “concerned at all” by the possibility that the club cannot register him in LaLiga for economic reasonsHe acknowledged that he faces the Champions League “with great enthusiasm” and claimed that age “has nothing to do” with the performance he can offer.
“I know the work that the team did last year. There is a very good defensive line in the team and I am here to add. I do not doubt that I will have many opportunities and I will try to take advantage of them. I notice that there is a desire to win and get more titles, that is breathed in the dressing room ”, pondered.
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