New Inter signing Josep Martinez reveals he was inspired by Santiago Canizares and Iker Casillas growing up, but realised that ‘determination matters more than talent’ in football.
The shot-stopper completed his transfer from Genoa at a cost of €15m including add-ons and put pen to paper on a contract to June 2029.
The Spaniard first came to Italy for the Grifone in 2022 and also played in Germany for RB Leipzig, but as a child he looked to the tradition of great Spanish goalkeepers.
“When I was a kid, my favourite player was certainly Jose Santiago Canizares, the incredible Valencia goalkeeper,” he told Inter TV.
“After that, my hero became Iker Casillas, who I always admired a great deal. If I hadn’t done this for a living, I would’ve become a physiotherapist for a football team.”
A product of the Barcelona youth academy, the 26-year-old made his senior debut for Las Palmas, but it was a career that risked being cut short.
“When I was 20 years old, I had an injury that kept me out for a few months and that made me realise how important it was not to get distracted by all the noise from people outside the sport. You must be able to forge your own path.”
Martinez also saw that leadership qualities make a big difference in the locker room and on the pitch.
“I learned that determination matters more than talent in football. Talent is important to start your career, but to maintain your position, you need determination and dedication.”