Iñigo Martinez: I didn't dare tell Flick I was leaving

 Iñigo Martinez talks about his departure from Barça over the summer.

"It's true that Hansi Flick had a lot of affection for me, but he also knew exactly what I brought to the team, not just on the field, but also off it."

"He saw me as a key piece, a pivotal element in his plans, so when a part of that puzzle fell apart at the last moment, suddenly and unexpectedly, it was natural for him to feel some doubt or confusion in that situation."

"He considered me a constant in the team, so any change surprised him a bit, which is normal - that's football. I think the surprise came from the fact that he found out while I was on the plane, more than anything else."

"Honestly, I didn't dare tell him right away. There were moments when I told myself: 'Tomorrow, I'll tell him tomorrow.' Then tomorrow came, and I'd say: 'Later, not now'."

"It was a long journey after the last match: several hours on the bus, a few stops at gas stations, then to the airport, and there, on the way, I spoke to his assistant and told him I wanted to talk to the coach because I had something on my mind that I needed to tell him."

"Finally, I decided to talk to him on the plane. And indeed, the news caught him completely off guard – a surprise, of course, for him."