Josep Martinez incident: autopsy ordered, Inter support family | OneFootball

The Inter goalkeeper is experiencing days of intense tension after the tragic accident in which an 81-year-old man lost his life. The club expresses solidarity with the family and offers psychological support to the player.

Josep Martinez Accident: Autopsy Ordered. Inter Stands by the Victim's Family

These are difficult times for Josep Martinez, Inter's second goalkeeper, who was involved in a fatal road accident on Tuesday morning along Provincial Road 32, heading towards Appiano Gentile. Paolo Saibene, 81, who was driving a small electric quadricycle, lost his life in the accident.

Martinez, immediately subjected to routine checks, was found to be sober and cooperated with the authorities by providing his version of the events. According to what he reported to the Carabinieri of Lomazzo, the elderly man "suddenly moved towards the center of the road," on a stretch with a speed limit set at 90 km/h. This dynamic was also confirmed by two witnesses traveling in the car immediately behind.

The Spanish player is formally under investigation for vehicular manslaughter, as a necessary act, pending the results of technical assessments and the autopsy.

Autopsy and Investigations: The Point of the Como Prosecutor's Office

The Como Prosecutor's Office, with Deputy Prosecutor Giulia Ometto, has ordered an autopsy on the victim's body, which will be performed on Friday at the Sant'Anna Hospital in Como. Inter has announced that it will appoint a forensic doctor to attend the examination.

The investigations do not rule out that Paolo Saibene may have had a sudden illness, thus losing control of the vehicle he was driving on the adjacent bike path. This scenario could be crucial in clarifying the dynamics and any responsibilities of the driver.

Martinez's Reaction: Returning to Appiano Gentile

Despite the shock, Martinez decided to reach Inter's sports center in Appiano Gentile in the hours leading up to the match against Fiorentina.

The club, which had guaranteed him complete freedom and psychological support, provided a specialized staff member. "I felt the need to be with my teammates," the goalkeeper reportedly confided to close acquaintances.

Accompanied by a club collaborator, as his car is still impounded, Martinez participated in a light recovery session and received the embrace of his teammates and coach Cristian Chivu.

Inter's Gesture: Solidarity with the Saibene Family

The Nerazzurri club wanted to publicly show its closeness to the victim's family. A few hours before the match against Fiorentina, Giuseppe Marotta, Inter's president, contacted Lucio Saibene, the deceased man's son, to express "the club's deepest condolences and support in this moment of great sorrow."

A gesture that underscores Inter's desire to maintain respectful and transparent behavior in such a delicate context, while justice takes its course.

Who is Josep Martinez: From Barcelona to Inter

Born in Alzira, in the Valencian community, the 27-year-old Josep "Pepo" Martinez began his career in Barcelona's youth academy, then continued at Las Palmas and Leipzig, before arriving in Italy with Genoa in 2022.

Endowed with excellent reflexes and refined footwork, Martinez stood out in the 2022-2023 season with eight clean sheets, contributing to Genoa's promotion to Serie A. His performances convinced Inter to purchase him in the summer of 2024 for about 13.5 million euros, one of the most significant deals of that market.

The goalkeeper is currently the deputy to Yann Sommer, but his constant growth and the age of the starter (37 years) suggest increasingly frequent use throughout the season.

An Episode That Marks but Does Not Halt a Professional's Journey

The episode involving Josep Martinez represents a complex human and sporting challenge. The club, staff, and fans have chosen to rally around him, recognizing the severity of the incident but also the need to await the results of the investigations before drawing definitive conclusions.

The priority remains respect for the victim and his family, while the Spanish goalkeeper's judicial and personal journey enters a decisive phase.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.