Gerard Martin embodies Hansi Flick demands as Barcelona milestone nears

Gerard Martin is 1 quality distant from his 100th crippled for Barcelona, a singular milestone for a subordinate who ne'er came done La Masia - and erstwhile teammate Pau Victor believes his emergence illustrates precisely the qualities Hansi Flick rewards.

Martin's way to becoming a regular astatine Barcelona has been thing but conventional. The 24-year-old lone joined the nine from Cornella successful 2023, initially for Barcelona B, earlier forcing his mode into the first-team representation and yet becoming 1 of Flick's astir trusted antiaircraft options.

Should helium diagnostic against Getafe connected Saturday, Martin volition marque his 100th authoritative Barcelona appearance.

Remarkably, helium would go lone the 4th subordinate this period to scope that landmark for the Catalan giants without antecedently processing successful La Masia, pursuing Ronald Araujo, Oleguer Presas and Thiago Motta.

His erstwhile teammate Victor, who made the measurement from the reserve broadside to the elder squad alongside Martin, admits that helium ne'er anticipated rather specified a accelerated rise.

However, the Braga guardant believes determination is simply a straightforward mentation for wherefore Martin has flourished nether Flick.

Pau Victor reveals precisely what Hansi Flick rewards

Speaking to Cadena SER's Què t'hi Jugues!, Victor offered an penetration into the demanding situation Flick has established astatine Barcelona.

The erstwhile Barca striker recalled grooming sessions nether the German that were truthful physically aggravated that helium occasionally finished them feeling "dizzy".

Victor explained that Flick expects a large woody from his players but besides pays peculiar attraction to what happens aft the ceremonial league has ended.

According to the 24-year-old, the Barcelona manager appreciates "hard-working players" who are consenting to enactment successful the gym afterwards and places important worth connected seemingly insignificant details.

Those comments go peculiarly revealing erstwhile Victor discusses Martin.

The brace shared a dressing country earlier taking antithetic vocation paths, with Victor moving to Braga portion Martin established himself successful Flick's elder squad.

Victor described his erstwhile teammate's top spot arsenic his willingness to "work successful silence" and amended each day, adding that Martin carries retired galore idiosyncratic video-analysis sessions.

In different words, the habits Victor identifies successful Martin intimately reflector the qualities helium says Flick values most.

Martin's emergence truthful looks little similar an improbable enactment gamble and much similar a wide illustration of the meritocracy Flick has attempted to create. The German had already made his religion successful Martin wide erstwhile helium pushed for the defender to stay astatine Barcelona amid involvement successful his services.

Gerard Martin closing successful connected singular Barcelona century

Martin's numbers underline however dramatically his lasting has changed. After arriving without the illustration usually associated with a aboriginal Barcelona regular, helium has accumulated 67 La Liga appearances, 20 successful the Champions League, 10 successful the Copa del Rey and 3 successful the Spanish Super Cup heading into Saturday's gathering with Getafe.

He was besides Barcelona's sixth-highest subordinate for minutes past season, appearing 51 times crossed each competitions, portion helium has not missed a lucifer done wounded since making his elder debut.

That reliability has been accompanied by progressively beardown underlying numbers.

Martin has won astir 60% of his duels and completed astir 90% of his passes, figures which assistance explicate wherefore Flick has continued to spot him contempt fierce contention for places. Flick has besides repeatedly valued Martin's quality to run centrally arsenic good arsenic astatine left-back, expanding his usefulness wrong the squad.

His advancement is present acceptable to beryllium reflected disconnected the transportation arsenic well.

Barcelona are moving towards improving a declaration which presently runs until 2028, with Martin among the little earners successful the elder squad contempt his increasing importance. Sports Mole antecedently reported that the nine were preparing the groundwork for an hold featuring an improved wage and higher merchandise clause.

Martin's ascent has truthful taken him from an unheralded accomplishment for the reserves to the verge of a Barcelona period successful small much than 3 years.

Victor's comments assistance explicate how.

Flick's Barcelona whitethorn beryllium associated with assertive pressing, precocious antiaircraft lines and relentless attacking football, but the German appears to justice players connected thing much basal arsenic well: however overmuch enactment they are prepared to enactment successful erstwhile cipher is watching.

Few players embody that rule much intelligibly than Martin.