Inigo Martinez Reflects on Departure from Barcelona: A Difficult Decision

Admission of Regret

Al-Nassr defender Inigo Martinez has openly shared his feelings of regret regarding his departure from Barcelona, expressing he felt he was letting down Hansi Flick, the team’s coach, during this crucial transition.

Barcelona’s Decision

The experienced player was given the green light to leave by the Barcelona management, even though he had established himself as a key figure under Coach Flick in the last season’s championship-winning campaign.

Key Insights from Inigo Martinez

Martinez shared his thoughts during a conversation on Cadena Cope, stating:

• Relationship with Hansi Flick: “It is true that Hansi Flick valued my contributions greatly, both on and off the field. He recognized my role as a key player in his strategy.”

• Unexpected Changes: “When a vital part of his plans changed unexpectedly, it’s understandable that he felt a mix of doubt and confusion about the situation.”

• Surprise on Departure: “He viewed me as a consistent presence in the squad, thus every alteration was a bit shocking for him. The surprise was heightened by the fact that he learned of my decision while I was en route, which is quite unexpected.”

• Struggle to Communicate: “To be honest, I hesitated to inform him right away. There were moments when I thought, ‘I’ll tell him tomorrow.’ Then, when tomorrow came, I pushed it off again.”

• Final Conversation: “The journey after my last match was lengthy: hours spent on a bus with breaks at gas stations before arriving at the airport. It was during this time that I communicated with his assistant, Marcus Sorg, expressing my desire to discuss something important with the coach. Ultimately, I chose to have the conversation on the plane, and the news clearly caught him off guard.”