Iñigo Martínez – On the decision that changed everything:
“When I look back on my journey in football — from my first steps as a young boy with big dreams, to the countless matches, the injuries, the triumphs, and the lessons learned — I see a career shaped by timing and opportunity. Some decisions you can take lightly, but others carry a weight you feel deep inside. This one was one of those rare moments where you realise: if I don’t do it now, I might never get the chance again. Football careers are short; the window for making life-changing moves is even shorter. And when this offer came to me, I instantly knew it was something extraordinary.
You can prepare yourself for matches, for pressure, for competition… but you can never truly prepare for a contract like this. The numbers, the terms, the scale of it — they make you pause. It’s the kind of proposal you hear about in stories, not something you expect to land in your own hands. I remember looking at the details, trying to process it, and for a moment it didn’t even feel real. It was like holding onto a dream with both hands, knowing it might never come again.”
“Making this decision was not easy. Over the years, I’ve built strong relationships here — with the players, the staff, the fans. Leaving is never just about walking away from a club; it’s about leaving behind people who have become part of your daily life. That’s why, when I first told Hansi Flick, it was emotional. At first, he was surprised — and who wouldn’t be? I had given everything for the shirt and the project. But from the very second I explained myself, he understood. Completely. That conversation was one of respect, honesty, and mutual care. There was sadness in the air, because both of us knew this wasn’t just a football decision, it was a personal one. Saying goodbye to someone you respect as much as I respect him — that’s never easy.”
“When I came back from the pre-season tour, I knew I couldn’t waste a single day. I owed Flick honesty, and I wanted him to hear it directly from me. I told him everything — my age, my contract situation, my personal goals. I’m 34 years old; I have only one year left on my deal here. And the truth is, opportunities like this — they’re like a train that passes by your station only once in a lifetime. If you hesitate, if you watch it go by, you might regret it forever. That thought weighed heavily on me. I didn’t want to look back one day and think, ‘What if?’ This was my moment to take the leap.
Yes, there’s excitement. Yes, there’s pride in what I’ve achieved so far. But there’s also sadness — because leaving means closing a chapter that has meant so much to me. I walk away with gratitude, with respect, and with the hope that people will understand that, in football and in life, sometimes you have to take the chance when it comes, even if it breaks your heart a little.”
