Midfielder Javier Martinez joined Bayern Munich on Wednesday with an impressive resume as a World Cup and Euro 2012 winner, but the 23-year-old rising star has made only a handful of appearances for Spain.
A late substitute in Spain’s 2-1 group-stage win over Chile at the 2010 World Cup, Martinez also came off the bench at Euro 2012 in the 4-0 group win over the Republic of Ireland.
It represents a fairly modest return at international level for a player reported to have cost Bayern 40 million euros (US$50 million).
Photo: AFP
Martinez, who was set to be unveiled at a press conference in Munich yesterday, may not yet be of the same class as more experienced compatriots such as Xavi or Andres Iniesta, but he “is part of our future,” Spain international team coach Vicente del Bosque said.
“In footballing terms, you can compare him with former international star Patrick Vieira,” Del Bosque said.
“He’s a born leader. A complete player,” he said.
The Spain coach also believes moving to Bayern will help to “shape and bring on” Martinez, but the Munich club set high standards and the Bavarian capital has not always been a happy hunting ground for bright, young talent.
Germany star Lukas Podolski spent three unhappy seasons there, before returning to hometown club Cologne, from where Arsenal snapped him up at the end of last season.
Promising defender Marcell Jansen, now at Hamburg SV, and striker Jan Schlaudraff, now at Hannover 96, each eventually lost their places in the Germany squad on the back of unhappy seasons in Munich.
Despite proving in his last season with Athletic Bilbao that he can also play in the heart of the defense, Martinez is set to play alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger in central midfield for Bayern.
Expectations will be high after a transfer deal that has reportedly broken the Bundesliga record, with Bayern Munich seeing off interest in the player from Manchester City and Barcelona.
“If you are looking at a certain position, and again and again come up with the same two or three players, you have to make a decision eventually,” Bayern president Uli Hoeness said about the player, who turns 24 on Sunday.
Robust and strong in the air, but also blessed with excellent technique, Martinez is seen as the final piece in the Bayern jigsaw by the club.
After being poached from CA Osasuna as a 17-year-old by Athletic Bilbao in 2006, he played 35 games in his debut season.
He became a key player at the San Mames, helping Athletic reach the finals of the Copa del Rey and the Europa League last season.
Now, he will be competing in the Champions League for the first time.
In 2010, he was awarded the Premio Don Balon for the best young player in Spain, joining previous winners such as Xavi (1999) and Raul (1995).
He made his debut for Spain just before the 2010 World Cup, but was instrumental in the Spanish side that won the European under-21 championship title last year.
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