Martínez ready to follow Falcao at Atlético
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
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Jackson Martínez has become Atlético Madrid's latest high-profile striker after joining from FC Porto for €35m; Richard Martin looks at some of his predecessors.
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Jackson Martínez joins an illustrious list of strikers at Atlético Madrid after the Spanish outfit confirmed his arrival on an four-year deal having agreed a fee of €35m with FC Porto.
Fernando Torres, Sergio Agüero, Diego Forlán, Diego Costa and Mario Mandžukić have all starred up front for the Rojiblancos over the past decade, although it is another former Atlético centre-forward in fellow Colombian Radamel Falcao who provides the greatest inspiration for Martínez.
The 28-year-old already knows how it feels to follow in his compatriot's footsteps. When Falcao made the same move from northern Portugal to the Spanish capital in 2011 – going on to find the back of the net 52 times in 68 Liga games – it was Martínez who was signed to replace him at the Estádio do Dragão.
"He told me good things about Atlético," Martínez said of Falcao, his captain in the national team. "He was a great player there and coming to Porto after him went well for me. I hope the same thing happens again."
To say things "went well" at Porto is a modest assessment on Martínez's behalf given his 92 goals in 136 games for the Portuguese outfit. Seven of those strikes came in eight UEFA Champions League games in 2014/15 as Julen Lopetegui's side reached the quarter-finals.
Diego Simeone's Atlético fell at the same hurdle after reaching the final 12 months previously, and that failure to find the net in 180 minutes against neighbours Real Madrid CF has brought about another reshuffle in the forward line at the Vicente Calderón. Martínez feels this is a burden he is ready to shoulder and is braced for the increased expectation and scrutiny.
"I'm very enthusiastic about this move to Atlético," he said. "I see it as a new challenge in my career and now I hope things go well there. I will go there with full commitment to help the club to continue developing. I have developed a lot as a striker. I'm still growing and learning and I'm sure I will improve a lot of things in my game in the Spanish league."
