Few believed in Gerard Martin when he first broke through for the first team back in the 2024/25 campaign. Surely we all remember the uproar. A graduate of Barca Atletic and arriving without the same hype as the rest of the La Masia generation. Each time he was brought in to play, eyebrows were raised regarding his ultimate potential.
The internet quickly dubbed him, "Gerard Maldini," after first a joke and then a serious meme on social media.
It's taken just two seasons, but this joke has now officially transitioned into genuine appreciation. Martin has spent the last couple of years quietly outperforming his critics and and played a huge role in winning the League title this season.
Instead of protesting game time or the varied roles Flick requires of him, he has delivered whenever required.
The numbers behind Barcelona's best defender.
In the current campaign, when Barcelona lost Inigo Martinez, and were left severely lacking a natural left-sided centre back, Flick was not afraid to hand that responsibility over to the young Spaniard alongside Pau Cubarsi. His tactical adaptation was brilliant.
Martin's numbers this season have also been superb. In 30 appearances for the Catalan side, he currently holds a FotMob rating of 7.23.
With fantastic numbers of 91.2% completion on all passes played, he's acting as the reliable outlet to bring the ball forward.
His 186cm height was key to winning 71.2% of his aerial duels.
He doesn't have the explosive pace of an Alejandro Balde or the stature of a Ronald Araujo, but instead reads the game extremely well and his performances have been vital for Barcelona's highline system.
There's a real argument to be made that the defender has been Barcelona's most consistent this season.
The Bastoni transfer rumors and lack of respect
In spite of his excellent performances, some fans are unwilling to accept him as a starter for the team, with the rumors constantly linking Barcelona to expensive and world-class defenders, including Alessandro Bastoni.
Reports have indicated that Barcelona have been willing to break the bank in order to find the ideal partner for Cubarsi. And these rumors are simply an example of the disrespect that is still given to Martin.
We are now looking for a superstar to partner the Spaniard in the center of defense after he held down the left-centre back spot and was pivotal in the League title triumph. We need to start realizing that chasing an astronomically high transfer fee for someone like Bastoni simply overlooks the stability and class already at the club.
Martin deserves the chance to prove he belongs at center-back, not be replaced just because of the lack of a premium transfer fee.
A permanent fixture for Flick's team
Even if Deco decides that Barcelona need to sign another central defender this summer, they should ensure that Martin remains in the first-team dynamics. With his versatility, Flick can rely on Martin to do either job effectively: either stay put in a traditional full-back position and shut down wingers, or step into a more modern, ball-playing center-back position.
He will not be a locker room problem for the side, he is a reliable performer, and he is a player that is willing to embrace whatever role he is asked to play. It is time to take Gerard Martin seriously; he is no longer a meme and he is now a world-class defender for Barcelona.
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