22-year-old Barcelona defender redeems himself as he awaits his extension | OneFootball

It is always important for any player to be at their very best whenever they represent Barcelona. The Catalan club demands excellence from its players and that is exactly what is expected of them whenever they step on the pitch. However, not every player at Barcelona has seen things go smoothly for them this season.

While certain players may have risen to even greater heights under the leadership of Hansi Flick, there are also those who continue to fight for their spot and tussle for opportunities to prove their worth. A rather demanding task in itself, but it also helps push these players to a level that they have never played at before.

Such is the case for 22-year-old Spanish fullback Gerard Martin, who has often been seen as one of the biggest under-performers for Barcelona this season. Having just arrived into the first team from the subsidiary, it seems that Hansi Flick saw something in the player that made him trust his abilities.

Now, after several games of being criticized and singled out as a weak link within the Barcelona backline whenever he plays, Gerard Martin finally redeemed himself in front of the Montjuic Stadium. A fantastic performance against Brest in the UEFA Champions League, it was a memorable night for both the team and Gerard Martin on a personal level as well.

Moreover, as highlighted by SPORT, it just adds even more value to the contract extension that the player is currently waiting on. As per the report, the young fullback has already a preliminary agreement with the club weeks ago and is simply waiting for the official announcement.

Reportedly, the contract will see him extend his stay at Barcelona until 2028. Moreover, it will increase his release clause value to €100 million while simultaneously improving his salary and financial compensation. However, the issue of financial fair play continues to mess with the club’s plans and it will likely take some time before an official announcement can be made.

Once the renewal is in place, Martin will remain with the Barcelona first team but with a reserve team number. As for his place and importance within the team itself, that remains up to his own performances and how well he can manage to keep the coach impressed.

So far this season, however, Hansi Flick has not left him aside whenever he has struggled. Instead, no matter what, opportunities are a constant and Martin has been reaping the benefits of Flick’s insistence on giving everyone a chance to redeem and improve themselves.