Iñigo Martínez gives a new meaning in Barcelona “Remontada”

Spanish word “re -assembly“It becomes infamous all over the world because of the extraordinary against The-Sodds Fightbacks (literal translation) that Real Madrid consistently The UEFA Champions League. But while the rulers of Europe will hope to conjure up one of those logically defying comebacks against Arsenal In the middle in Bernabéu is lower profile-but equally worthy of awards- re -assembly happens in the heart BarcelonaIs a brilliant rear line.

The man in the focus is Iñigo Martínez. Without any shadow of doubt, the team leader in the Spanish chosen champion, the chief of this four, the man who markes their exciting, ridiculously high -wire, advanced offside line. But he is also a man who also seemed to have lost how to play for Barcelona, ​​as most likely he was again selected for his national team.

33 -year -old Basque Central Defender was first selected as a leader in Barcelona Real sociedad In 2016-17. Ernesto Valverde, then responsible for Barcelona, ​​decided that Martínez was a player who could add steel to aging, increasingly dilapidated Blaugrany A party that eventually disintegrated so dramatically (3-0, lost 4-3) to Liverpool In 2019 – Last time the Catalans reached the Champions League semifinals.

When Valverde persuaded Camp Nou Moneymen to go and sign Martínez, some of the 222 million euros have just received from Barcelona Paris Saint-Germain for Neymarwas shocked when he found the praetorian guardian of Barcelona’s old timers – Lionel Messi, Jordi albums, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suárez And Gerard Piqué – begs him not to sign Martínez.

Whether Valverde felt, it looks like complete madness now. As such, it was not an order to ban on the defender himself, but specifically the vote from his adoring teammates that Javier Mascherano had to be maintained as a defensive leader Barça.

“Jefect“Mascheran’s nickname -” Little Boss. “For twisted competitors in Barcelona like Messi, Suárez and albums, but the little boss was their big boss – when he became again in Inter Miami cf. They wanted to keep the Argentine at all costs and believed it was to close the door to Martínez.

How did it end? Well, Mascherano left the club to China in the middle of the 2017-18 season, the sick of not getting enough game time, and Barcelona defensively disintegrated in the Champions League quarterfinals Like the Roma (4-1 up, 4-4 for long-distance targets) followed this embarrassment in Anfield a year later.

Could Martinez change? Maybe, not only in those nights of infamousness, but because of his hard, unnatural demanding lead on everyday basis. It is a kind of person who affects training ground culture and who would undoubtedly see rot and stood up to the star culture that appeared around Messi, Suárez and Piqué. Valverde so much needed a guy as Martínez.

Martínez himself closed the door at least to the international future with Spain By clarifying the FA before selecting for the delayed Euro 2020 that he wanted not to take into account. I greatly admired my decision to publicly announce that it was not mental for its own or its national team, justice, if it is selected for the requirements of this summer tournament 2021.

“It’s hard to write, but I wasn’t 100% mentally or physically for some time so I could compete at the level required by an athletic or Spanish team,” Martínez said in a statement. “To be honest with the teams, and I decided to retreat, disconnect, try to recharge the batteries and regain the strength that was central for my career. This season I left everything on the pitch to try and qualify for Europe and got into the Spanish team with the result of all the things. team “” “”

It is a kind of thing, a bit like a whistleblowing employee who knows dark industrial secrets where intentions are right, reasons that are honest and commendable, many people will appreciate and understand, but soon notice cautious views, see the opportunities smaller, and eventually realize that you were isolated and put on the shelf. Doing the right thing is risky.

In the eyes of the hierarchy of Spain and the creators of the decision in Barcelona, ​​it could seem like recognition that his days of elite level ended. Jumping before pushing and the beginning of the end.

So to redeem stories.

Then-manager Xavi Hernández phoned Martínez personally in the summer of 2023 to persuade him to leave Athletic club For the camp and the defender, he bit into his hand – although Barcelona was in such financial difficulties that there was absolutely no guarantee that they could register Martínez. In the worst case he could easily spend six or 12 months on them but could not pull Blaugrany Shirts competitively because they were not financially healthy enough to register him with a laliga. It was a monumental jump of faith by the player.

“Xavi’s word about me was beautiful, so when he calls the name of a club like Barcelona, ​​everyone else has to take second place,” Martínez said at that time. “I immediately said” yes “to join. I didn’t have any bad memories that chased me about a few years ago when I was so close to connection in 2017. I joined victory.”

The injury was the turbidity of his career, but since he was fully fit, and since Hansi Flick inherited Xavi’s work, Martínez hasn’t had a little spectacular. Is the perfect partner-in-them brilliant-downtry Pau Cubarsi. He is the perfect man who guarded Flick’s ridiculously boldly bold high back line, which often plays offside only inside their own half of the playground – it is monstrous and needs absolute fanatical intensity, concentration and cohesion. Four men moved like one. Every time, all the time.

In a team to choose for Tuesday’s quarterfinals of the second stage, there is a team that selects for Tuesday’s quarterfinals of the second stage, an ugly puzzle to choose from a team that selects Borussia Dortmund. If he were to be booked in Germany, Martínez would miss the first stage of the semifinals through the suspension, provided Barcelona converted his four goals-it would be considered disastrous.

So, relax, right? But Flick also thinks that the best way to ensure that Barcelona converts this victory of the first leg to the semifinal place is that his Basque defender is in charge of Dortmund.

Dilemma and decision.

Anyone who has doubts about the form or sharpness of Martínez had to see only His “incredible” challenge in which he robbed Munir El Haddadi From what looked on Saturday a guaranteed equalizer when Barcelona growled around Leganes. It was one of those top challenges of old school when the defender began the third best in the race of two horses, but still won-cheer, sprint, risk assessment, cleanliness of sliding challenges. Just spectacular.

The warrior of the warrior is what we are witnessing, and maybe Iñigo Martínez will take it to the final of the Champions League in Munich and The UEFA NATIONS League Final with Spain in June.

Now thatWhere he wasn’t recently, he would really be re -assembly.