Inigo Martinez: ‘Being in favour of independence doesn’t mean you shouldn’t play for Spain’ – Football España

Former Real Sociedad, Athletic Club and Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez has spoken about his absence from the Spanish national team, and his decision to drop out of the squad in March. The 34-year-old defender was included by Luis de la Fuente for their Nations League quarter-finals against the Netherlands, but dropped out due to pain in his knee, for which some criticised him.

The Basque centre-back was one of the leaders of the Barcelona defence last season, one that has been struggling without him. However Martinez told Cadena Cope that he was confident that Barcelona would be battling for the title until the final weeks of the season. He also said there was little need to panic following their defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

“The second half wasn’t great, but we’re talking about PSG. Luis Enrique knows Barca very well, and they have a great squad. It’s normal to have matches where you struggle more, and the important thing is to show up when the team isn’t doing so well. Last year we had a dip, quite a big one, and we were able to pull through it.”

‘If I didn’t want to go, I’d have said so’ – Martinez on Spain duty

Despite appearing for Spain on 21 previous occasions, some suggested that Martinez had pulled out of the squad because he did not want to play for La Roja anymore.

“If I hadn’t wanted to go, I would have been the first to say so. I wouldn’t be wasting my time… There have simply been situations where I’ve felt better or worse. At the time of the injury or the discomfort I had in my knee, I thought, ‘It’s not feasible for me to go to the national team,’ like other players. Then, my situation is reviewed, it’s clear I have discomfort, and… Days simply go by, and the knee improves. And players don’t always play at 100%. There was a risk of injury or of things getting worse, which you assess at the time. I don’t think this is the first case, nor the last.

Data shows Barça rank 15th in LaLiga for distance covered, well below past title-winning levels under Xavi and Flick. @xavierbosch

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Last May, Martinez was seen celebrating Barcelona’s domestic treble, draped in an Ikurrina, the Basque flag, and then waving an Estelada, the Catalan flag associated with the independence movement.

“It’s one thing for me to be in favour of what the majority of a people… But that doesn’t mean that if I’m in favour of independence or support them on many issues, I shouldn’t be playing for the national team. That’s not the case. Surely people put the two things together because I’m Basque.”

‘I want Spain to win the World Cup’ – Inigo Martinez

Martinez went on to say that he would be supporting Spain at the World Cup next year in the USA, Mexico and Canada. He also confirmed that he would be unlikely to be there.

“Right now, Spain. If I didn’t want to go, I wouldn’t have gone… I had a chat with the coach… And I think, at this point, it wouldn’t be a good idea for me to be in the squad again. Who wouldn’t want to play in a World Cup…? The coach already knew that. I don’t think I have to explain myself to anyone, just talk to the coach and that’s it. And the decision was made not to go, just as the decision was made to bring Ferran back.”

The issue of Catalan independence has been a divisive one for the Spanish national team. The most famous instance being that of Gerard Pique, who was whistled by Spain fans during his final years wearing La Roja shirt. That came off the back of Pique declaring that he was in favour of an independence referendum in Catalonia, although he has never revealed which way he would vote.