Spanish football pundit Guilleme Balague confirmed this week Premier League leaders Manchester City have enquired after Spanish starlet Javi Martinez. Do they need him? Here are 10 things to know about the possible January signing…
1) Martinez is a versatile midfielder, who likes to play centrally. City could be considering him as a replacement when Yaya Toure heads to the African Nations Cup in January, simply because they can afford to.
2) He plays for Athletic Bilbao, not one of La Liga’s frontrunners, and is primed for a move to a top team, now aged 23 he is unlikely to remain there by the end of the summer.
3) Martinez can also play in defence, starting there for Spain in their friendly in September against Chile and is expected to make thei Euro 2012 squad.
4) He has not always been at Bilbao, they signed him for six million Euros from Osasuna in 2006 aged 17. Considering his potential resale value that could be quite an investment.
5) His Spain debut came in May 2010, when he replaced Xavi in a friendly win over Saudi Arabia.
6) He also has a World Cup winners medal, and even got 10 minutes on the pitch in the side’s 2-1 win over Chile.
7) That is not his only winners medal, he also captained Spain’s under-21 European Championship winning side, which drew 1-1 with England along the way. He is in the Spain squad to face England’s first team at Wembley on Saturday.
8) Individual honours have started to come his way too, in 2010 he won the La Liga Don Balon award, for best breakthrough player.
9) City may face competition for his signature from rivals Manchester United who need to strengthen their midfield, while Liverpool were linked with him in 2009 as a replacement for Xabi Alonso.
10) His only goal of this season so far came against former club Osasuna in a 3-1 win. In his career he has 23 goals in 197 games.
– Do City need Martinez? Would you like to see him at your club?
image: © henrikalexandersen
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