Flick agrees with Yamal: Gerard Martín deserves more recognition

Hansi Flick shares Lamine Yamal’s assessment: Gerard Martín, a Barça defender, does not receive the recognition he deserves. The coach’s view aligns with that of his young teammate as Martín reaches 100 official appearances in the club shirt, a milestone achieved by few players in its history.

Martín’s first-team journey began in the summer of 2024, when Flick called him up to take part in preparations for the new season as part of an expanded group of academy players. At that point, Gerard had not progressed beyond Spain’s first division, despite an outstanding season with Barça’s reserve team.

Flick has highlighted the defender’s improvement and standing within the squad. After the match against Getafe, the coach said: « Gerard Martín’s confidence has improved a lot. He fits the way we play. Everyone can improve, and what Gerard is producing shows that he has reached the elite level. He does not receive the recognition he deserves. »

Martín made his first-team debut at left-back. Iñigo Martínez’s departure then prompted a reorganisation of Barça’s defence. Experience playing in a back three at Cornellà helped him adapt to the centre-back role in a back four.

Yamal had also recently said that Martín was not receiving enough recognition. That shared view is echoed by the defender’s 100-match milestone: a landmark which, in the account of his progress, reflects his discipline amid outside criticism and the staff’s work to identify and develop his strengths.