Barcelona star: I'm not concerned by Rodri's prediction, and this is my assessment of Hamza Abdelkarim
Yamal deserves to win the Ballon d'Or
Barcelona star Gerard Martin has tipped Egyptian teammate Hamza Abdelkarim as a player with huge potential.
Speaking to Sport newspaper, Martin said: "Hamza Abdelkarim is a shy player, but he is a very hard-working young man, and honestly he is a wonderful person."
On the campaign so far, he went on: "We have started the season very well, and now it is time to stop for a few days, but we will come back with great desire."
He also revealed the role of a sports psychologist in his career: "I use a sports psychologist, who helps me in both the good and the bad moments. In the good moments, he helps me to keep going with the same mentality so that I do not regress. And in periods of low confidence or fewer minutes of play or anything of that sort, he helps me to work day after day, and to improve my self-confidence and my sense of security."
Asked about Lamine Yamal branding him underrated, Martin replied: "Yamal said that you are one of the most underrated footballers. Do you feel that too? Perhaps it is true that I do not get enough appreciation from the outside. But the most important thing for me is that my teammates, my family and the coach appreciate me."
There is a dressing-room nickname, too. "The story about you being compared to Maldini? Eric Garcia in particular always calls me by that name. And there are some other players too, but Eric always calls me Maldini."
Martin was clear on the Ballon d'Or: "Yamal deserves to win it, for me he is the best player, and therefore he should win it."
He also praised Rodri: "Rodri is a top-class player, and he has always been used to this style of play, with possession of the ball, and therefore he also adapted to us very quickly. He has great experience, and this shows as well in the moments of the matches."
Pressed on Rodri's recent comments, he said: "Rodri said recently that for him Barcelona is not the strongest candidate to win the Champions League, and that the team needs to improve some things. How do you see it from your point of view? Honestly, it does not matter much to me whether we are classed among the candidates or not. Because our goal remains to win the Champions League."
Favourites tag or not, the mindset stays the same. "I do not think that our classification as candidates puts any extra pressure on us, just as the absence of this classification does not remove the pressure, because we deal with the matter in the same way. In the end, let those who are outside the club say what they want. We will focus on our work, and we will do everything in our power to win it."
His fitness record also came up: "There is something that draws attention. You have not suffered any injury since you became a Barcelona player, how is that? Well, I broke my hand with the national team during the summer, but it is true. I do not know, I always try to take care of myself as much as possible, and up to now I have been lucky not to suffer any injury, and I hope it continues like that."
On a new deal, he was emphatic: "Of course. I would be happy to continue here for more years. I am close to playing my 100th match, and so I hope to play another 100 matches, and everything that comes after that."
And a contract for life? He didn't hesitate: "Would you sign a lifetime contract with Barcelona? Yes, definitely. Well, I have to deserve it, but yes, yes. Up to now things are going well."
