The summer season switch window was comparatively quiet for Barcelona, however one departure left followers and the supervisor surprised. Inigo Martinez, praised for his management and affect within the dressing room, out of the blue packed his baggage for Saudi Arabia. Whereas many anticipated him to proceed anchoring the backline alongside Pau Cubarsi, he as a substitute selected a brand new journey at Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
The story may need appeared like a typical profession transfer for a veteran, but it surely was the participant’s seven-word confession throughout a non-public dialog that actually rattled coach Hansi Flick, leaving him visibly shocked.
For Barcelona supporters, the defender’s departure was each painful and shocking. At 34 years outdated, he had simply accomplished what he described because the greatest season of his profession, that includes in 46 matches, scoring three targets, and offering 5 assists. Past the numbers, he was a quiet chief in a squad stuffed with youthful expertise.
In an interview with Jijantes, the centre-back admitted that his selection was removed from simple. “It was not simple; I needed to make the choice in a short time. On the time, I thanked the membership for facilitating my departure, not everybody does. I felt like certainly one of them, I liked getting there each day.”
The emotional goodbye hit hardest within the dressing room. “It was very exhausting for me to say goodbye to the gamers, and I’ve solely been right here for 2 years, and with some, only one yr. Final yr was one of the best of my profession, however I noticed it as not possible that I may keep yet another yr.”
The confession that left Flick in shock
The true turning level got here through the staff’s preseason tour in South Korea. On the flight house, the participant approached Flick close to one of many aircraft’s emergency exits to disclose the information personally. The German coach, who had publicly highlighted him as a vital determine for the season, was blindsided.
Because the Spaniard recalled: “I had the speak with Hansi in one of many emergency doorways of the aircraft [coming back from South Korea]. We talked concerning the state of affairs and the coach was shocked. I instructed him I had a suggestion that I thought of irresistible.”
These seven phrases—“I had a suggestion I thought of irresistible”—defined his determination. For Flick, it was a bitter blow, particularly as he had deliberate to rely closely on the defender’s expertise to information a younger squad. In the meantime, the attract of the Center East and the once-in-a-lifetime alternative to play alongside Ronaldo is well comprehensible.
The transfer to Al-Nassr—house of Cristiano Ronaldo—represents each a private {and professional} shift for the veteran. After two years at Camp Nou, he noticed the prospect to embrace a brand new problem within the Saudi Professional League as one he merely couldn’t refuse.
