Broken Finger Cost Me Serie A Move Before Chelsea Transfer –Martinez

Chelsea goalkeeper Martínez has disclosed that he delayed necessary surgery on a broken finger to ensure he could represent Argentina at the World Cup, following crucial support from manager Lionel Scaloni.

To protect the injury, sports gear brand Adidas supplied Martínez with a specialized glove. However, the shot-stopper admitted the protective wear impaired his grip and left him battling persistent discomfort, acknowledging that the finger “will never go back to how it was.”

‘It will never go back to how it was,’ Martinez said. ‘I am still playing with pain.’

He described intense pre-tournament suffering, including sleepless nights and severe pain during basic training drills.

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‘The day before Algeria I was diving with one arm, diving like a zombie.

‘If I put my hand down I was seeing stars. It was brutal. Every single night I was crying because my finger looked like a sausage.

‘But these are the risks you take for the national team, I’d do it again.’

The decision to play through the injury carried major professional consequences, causing a potential summer transfer to Serie A side Juventus to collapse after X-rays confirmed the fracture.

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‘I got an x-ray and it was broken again,’ Martinez said. ‘That is when a transfer to a club fell through because of the finger.

‘They said it was possible for me to play like that, that I needed surgery, but Chelsea didn’t, they didn’t care. One day I will need surgery.’

Chelsea ultimately stepped in to secure his signing for £7.5 million, unconcerned by the eventual need for surgery. Martínez, who maintains he would make the sacrifice again for his country, is currently recovering from a broken jaw suffered in Chelsea’s recent win against Everton.

Austin Akhilomen is a passionate sports content writer with a strong interest in football. He is a fan of the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Chelsea, and he enjoys following the teams, players, and competitions that make the sport exciting. Austin writes sports news, match reports, and football content to keep readers informed about the latest developments in the sporting world. His passion for sports also drives his aim to promote the game and connect football fans across the globe. Through his work with Complete Sports, Austin shares engaging sports content with readers and brings his love for football into every story he writes.