Barcelona youngster wishes to retire at the club following recent contract renewal | OneFootball

Last month saw FC Barcelona secure a spree of contract renewals, one of which saw young defender Gerard Martin pen an extension with the club.

The 22-year-old left-back’s previous contract was set to expire at the end of the current season and he signed a new three-year deal, which will keep him at Barcelona until 2028.

Gerard Martin wants to retire at Barcelona

However, if it is up to him, Martin admitted that he wishes to stay at Barcelona for a much longer time, even possibly retire at the club.

“I hope to be here for as long as possible. If I could, I would retire here. It is my dream. I have wanted to be a footballer since I was a child,” Martin told Barça One.

“I always dreamed of playing for Barça. I used to score a lot of goals when I was younger, but I think I used them all up. I was close to scoring against Betis,” he added.

The 22-year-old defender stated that he did not hesitate even for a moment before signing his contract renewal, as he noted:

“If I didn’t think twice when I had the chance to sign for Barça Atletic in the summer of 2023, imagine how little I hesitated to renew.”

Talking about his journey which has landed him at Barcelona, with a semi-regular role in the first-team setup under Hansi Flick, Martin remarked:

“If three years ago someone told me that I would be where I am now, I wouldn’t have expected it, but well. There is a lot of invisible work behind it. But that is the case for all footballers; sometimes the reward comes.”

Gerard Martin signed a new contract until 2028. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Martin also admitted that Barcelona legend Jordi Alba is his role model, as he said: “Jordi Alba is my idol. I always watched him because he played in the same position as me.

“He formed a great duo with Messi with those cut-back passes. I do not know whether it is impossible to match his career, but I do know that it is very difficult.”

The youngster also reminisced about the time he faced Xavi Hernandez’s Barcelona team in the Copa del Rey while he was still with UD Cornella.

“It was one of my first games with the first team. I wasn’t supposed to play that day, but a teammate could not play last minute due to discomfort. I have great memories of that match. I was really excited to play against Barça,” Martin recalled.

Concluding, Martin also expressed his thanks to Rafa Marquez, who gave him the opportunity at Barça Atletic last season, saying:

“I did not expect to have such a big impact last year. I played in all the games except one due to suspension. It was not easy at the beginning because I had to adapt to Barça’s style.

“Rafa Marquez was very important, if I’m here it’s thanks to him and he shaped me and made me a footballer.”