Josep Martinez arrives at the Olimpico with a response to make and an unexpected international reward in his pocket. Inter’s goalkeeper has been summoned by Spain for four Nations League matches against England, Croatia twice and the Czech Republic, a late opening created by Joan Garcia’s muscle injury in Barcelona’s most recent Liga fixture.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente knows Martinez from the Under-21 side and has made clear that the call is based on trust rather than convenience alone. He pointed to the goalkeeper’s league and cup success last season, describing him as a dependable option for the national team. For Martinez, now Inter’s first choice after serving as an accomplished deputy, it is a timely vote of confidence.
The recall has come after two difficult moments in an Inter shirt. Against Real Madrid, a misplaced attempt to beat the press allowed Federico Valverde to score the second goal. In the subsequent match with Udinese, Martinez’s uncertain positioning helped Jurgen Ekkelenkamp find the visitors’ second. Yet neither incident altered Cristian Chivu’s backing of his goalkeeper.
After the Udinese match, the Inter coach offered an unequivocal defence, saying he would stand by Martinez completely and insisting that the Spaniard had not been, and would not become, a problem. That stance makes it likely that Martinez will remain in goal for Sunday afternoon’s major meeting with Roma in the capital.
The occasion offers more than a chance to erase recent errors. At the Bernabeu, Martinez recovered strongly after his early mistake, producing a series of important saves that kept Inter’s hopes of a comeback alive until the closing stages. Udinese did not seriously test him again after their third goal, while Inter went on to win 5-3.
Rome will present a more searching examination. Inter selected Martinez as Yann Sommer’s long-term successor because of the assurance he showed whenever called upon as reserve. He was also the regular goalkeeper throughout the Coppa Italia run that ended with the trophy in Inter’s hands. As the established starter, however, he must now find greater consistency: reducing the risks born of excessive confidence in possession while preserving the speed and timing of his interventions outside the penalty area, qualities valuable to a team that aims to keep its line high.
Ivan Provedel, signed in part to give Inter experienced cover, is expected to receive opportunities of his own in due course. For now, though, the focus rests on Martinez and the scrutiny that follows his last two appearances.
This is not Martinez’s first involvement with Spain, although it is his first conventional senior call-up. He made his international debut on 8 June 2021 in a friendly against Lithuania, when Spain’s entire senior group was affected by the Covid situation following Sergio Busquets’ positive test. De la Fuente’s Under-21 squad was used instead, and Martinez came on for the final 20 minutes.
He had only recently turned 23 at that point and was Peter Gulacsi’s understudy at RB Leipzig. More than five years later, his circumstances have changed considerably: he is Inter’s number one, preparing for Roma at the Olimpico, and once again part of De la Fuente’s plans for Spain.
