Barcelona defender cuts short holiday to ramp up preparations for pre-season

Barcelona defender cuts short holiday to ramp up preparations for pre-season One of Barcelona’s biggest finds last season was the emergence of Gerard Martin as a quality central defensive option, especially in La Liga games. The Spaniard, who began his first-team career as a left-back, developed into a central defensive partner to Pau Cubarsi and finished the season as first choice for Flick. Although he still has his critics, Martin’s development has been inspiring . Now, the Spaniard is not treating the summer as a time to switch off completely. According to SPO R T , the Barcelona defender has shortened his holidays and has already spent more than three weeks working individually to arrive in the best possible shape for pre-season. Martin has been following a specific plan at Dr Juan Boffa’s Sports Medicine Clinic after spending a few days away in Mallorca and Greece. Putting in the work. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images) His work has included strength sessions, stability and prevention exercises, mobility drills, physical readaptation and physiotherapy treatment. Martin puts in early work The idea is clear: Martin wants to return to Barcelona training with a physical advantage. At a club where competition is brutal and every detail matters, that kind of preparation can make a real difference. Even during his time in Greece with his partner, the defender did not fully disconnect. Before travelling, he asked a trusted physiotherapist to prepare a personalised training plan so he could maintain his rhythm and continue progressing. Martin is a player Flick trusts completely. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images) His commitment has also been visible at the Ciutat Esportiva . Martin went voluntarily to the club’s training facilities in Sant Joan Despi today, around 11 in the morning, to continue working alone. That says a lot about his mentality. Martin is not a player who has had anything handed to him at Barcelona. His rise has been built on consistency, discipline and an understanding that small margins often decide careers at this level. A useful example for Flick Last season, few expected him to grow into such an important defensive option. However, after Inigo Martinez’s departure, Martin responded with personality and gradually earned the trust of the coaching staff. For Hansi Flick, this is the kind of player every squad needs. Talent matters, but so do reliability, hunger and the willingness to suffer for the team’s cause. Martin still has to prove himself again when the season starts, because Barça never offer comfort for long. However, his summer work underlines exactly why he has become important for Flick, and that looks set to continue in the upcoming season.