Martinez tells of Inter's hunger and the tragedy that haunts him
Josep Martinez, a young defender from the Comunitat Valenciana, told the newspaper, chosen as his preferred source on Google, about his journey from Inter to the Spanish national team, where his debut in 2021 came because of Sergio Busquets' Covid and an unusual injury to Joan Garcia.
From Valencia to Inter and Spain
Martinez started at a small club in the Comunitat Valenciana, where he stood out for his strength and shyness. His agent noticed him while he was attending another match, recognizing his potential. His path led him to Inter, a club that had not lost in 38 games, now 40.
His first call‑up to the Spanish national team came in 2021, when Sergio Busquets was forced to stay away because of Covid, and the selection was made necessary by a decidedly unusual injury to Joan Garcia. This opportunity allowed Martinez to establish himself in the blue squad, where he continued to develop.
“I worked extremely hard to get this opportunity, to fulfil the dream I had as a child,” Martinez said, adding that the welcome was easy thanks to connections made at La Masia during his two‑year spell in Barcelona. The youngster emphasized that his determination was born from the desire to honour his family.
In the Under‑21 championship he met coach Luis de la Fuente, who later found him in the World Cup‑winning squad, confirming that their bond remained unchanged. De la Fuente then included him in the national team roster, where he could showcase his talent.
The unity of the Spanish national team
Martinez highlighted that what impressed him most in training was the unity of play, a cohesion that goes beyond the simple quality of individual players, even though he comes from a high‑level club like Inter. Martinez noted that, despite coming from Inter, the group’s cohesion far exceeds mere technical ability.
De la Fuente described the group as “the strongest in the world,” highlighting that all players share the same playing philosophy, without individual freedoms, and that the team is always first. According to the coach, collective discipline is the real engine of success, more than individual liberty.
According to Martinez, Barcelona is an important part of the national team’s identity, but the playing idea is shared by all Spanish clubs, making it easier to assimilate young talents. Martinez recalls a victory over Barcelona two years ago, which confirmed Spain’s ability to compete at the highest level.
Defensive challenges and painful memories at Inter
Regarding Inter, Martinez admitted that the team “concedes too many goals” and that it is essential to improve the defensive phase, while maintaining the hunger that characterises the group. The defender also recalled the mistakes made against Madrid and Udinese, which highlighted defensive gaps to be fixed.
A tragedy that occurred last year, linked to the memory of a loved one, still haunts him; to overcome it, the defender believes it is essential to look to the future and not dwell on difficult moments. He feels that avoiding results below 2‑0, such as against Roma or Madrid, is crucial to maintain the team’s confidence.