Javi Martinez

Javier ‘Javi’ Martinez Aguinaga plays on a position of a midfielder for Athletic Bilbao and the Spanish national team.

His career started at Osasuna. He spent the season 2005/06 playing for their reserve team. That was the time when people compared the talented player to the famous Frenchman Patrick Vieira.

Martinez was sold to Athletic Bilbao in the summer of 2006 as they paid around € 6 million for the 17-year-old. The young age didn’t create any obstacles on his way as he made 35 appearances with 3 goals in his first season. Javi was distinguishable for quick adaptation and mature play so these qualities made him a target of big clubs. For example Chelsea, Liverpool and Fiorentina showed genuine interest in the services of the young midfielder. Nevertheless they were disappointed with the price tag estimated €30 mln.

Meanwhile the player worked and developed his abilities that resulted in a title of the most successful young player by ‘Don Balón’ in 2010.