Inigo Martinez reflects on his sudden Barcelona exit – ‘I spoke to Flick on the way back and…’ | OneFootball

Former Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez has finally spoken about his unexpected departure from the club.

In an interview with Onda Vasca (h/t SPORT), Martinez explained how the offer came to him and why he ultimately decided to leave Barça, sharing candid reflections on his final days at the club.

“Let’s see, many were caught off guard. And apart from the fact that the fans liked me, I generated that illusion.

“In the end, I caught them suddenly leaving, but these are things in football, and nowadays we are used to changes from one day to the next,” he said, acknowledging the surprise his exit caused among supporters.

Martinez cited economic reasons and the timing of the opportunity as crucial factors in his decision. “I would have thought about continuing if I had had more years with Barça. Because my salary was important. It’s not that it was a low salary, but we were comfortable.

“Whether you want to come to this country or not. It is hard to make this decision; not only dragging my wife, but also my children, everything changes. Maybe I would have thought about it more, yes.”

Breaking the news to Flick

The defender also discussed how he broke the news to Hansi Flick. “I spoke to Flick on the way back from the tour because I didn’t want to either. We had had enough with the way the tour was going.

“People were a bit rowdy and didn’t want any more things. And when I returned to Barcelona, I was honest with him, because I knew he was going to understand me perfectly, because I have one year left on my contract and I’m 34 years old.

“It caught him by surprise, but he understood it perfectly from minute two. It was a pleasant talk, and I was very sorry because there was a mutual appreciation. It was sad at the same time.

“It is not that it was tense, but a lot of emotion, and you see that the time to be together is over, and he wasn’t going to have me in the group. I knew how important it was to him.”

What about his teammates?

Inigo Martinez reflected on his Barcelona exit. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Reflecting on his time at Barcelona, Martinez highlighted both the emotional farewell in the dressing room and the challenges he faced when joining the club. “It was a very emotional farewell.

“I kept my composure because I know myself, because I hold on and I get strong, but inside I was affected and I saw them also affected.

“I have had an exceptional start; they have always supported me. It wasn’t easy at the beginning because of injuries when I arrived, but in the following year I came back with flying colours.

“In a short time, I gained a lot of affection. It’s not the quantity of time but the quality.”

The only regret

He also expressed regret at missing the chance to see the renovated Camp Nou. “The only thorn in my side is not being able to get to know the new pitch: I wanted to be at the new Camp Nou and see it.”

Finally, Martinez commented on Nico Williams’ decision to stay at Athletic Club: “All summer with Nico Williams we were err and err and in the end it stays.

“I was happy for him if it was a decision he wanted to make. Nico is a great player and we would have loved to have him in Barcelona.

“He’s a spectacular guy. I’m glad he’s staying and going well. Hopefully, he will be Nico as always,” he noted.