Spain Star Hails Inter Milan Ambitions: ‘Serie A Title Our Goal, Champions League A Dream’ – Adds ‘I Have A Brilliant Relationship’ With Ex Bayern Munich Veteran | OneFootball

Goalkeeper Josep Martinez says that the Serie A title is Inter Milan’s “goal” while the Champions League would be a “dream.”

The 26-year-old spoke to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews. He also hailed his “brilliant relationship” with teammate Yann Sommer.

Goalkeeper Josep Martinez joined Inter Milan from Genoa last summer.

The Spaniard walked into a team who were already the reigning champions of Serie A.

Therefore, while Martinez may not have experienced that triumph firsthand, he definitely knows what it meant to become a part of this Inter team.

Meanwhile, Inter reached the Champions League final a couple years ago. There, they were unfortunate to lose 1-0 to Premier League juggernauts Manchester City.

So far this season, Martinez has largely been the backup to Yann Sommer. However, over the past couple weeks he has gotten his big chance, with Sommer on the sidelines due to a thumb injury.

Josep Martinez: “Serie A Title The Goal For Inter, Champions League A Dream”

Inter keeper Josep Martinez said that “We want to win every match.”

“Our first thought is winning the Serie A title,” he continued. “Then the Champions League is a dream.”

GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 24: Josep Martinez of Genoa is seen in action during a warm-up session prior to kick-off in the Serie A TIM match between Genoa CFC and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 24, 2024 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Martinez called legendary former Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas his “idol.”

“As a Spaniard I preferred him to Buffon,” he admitted. “What a beautiful rivalry they had.”

Another role model for Martinez was Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer. The Inter keeper called Neuer “courageous, and a master of timing.”

“I played in Spain, in Germany with Leipzig, and now in Italy,” Martinez noted. He called these “three great schools of football.”

Of being a backup keeper for RB Leipzig and now Inter, the 26-year-old admitted that “it’s not easy.”

“You have to work on yourself,” he reflected. “Train, wait for the opportunity.”

“You know that it can come at any moment,” Martinez said.

As far as whether he could still get starts now that Yann Sommer is returning to fitness, Martinez admitted that “I don’t know either!”

“But I know that Yann and I have a brilliant relationship,” he added. “He’s ten years older than me, he’s a role model.”

Martinez also made the bold claim that “With his feet, [Sommer] is number one in the world.”

Meanwhile, the keeper also gave his thoughts on which Inter player is the best on penalty kicks apart from Hakan Calhanoglu.

“Lautaro,” he said. “He shoots them really hard.”

“Zielinski is a very good penalty taker,” he added. “And then Dimarco is a left-footer. I couldn’t choose.”