If you have read the latest “Dizzels La Liga Column” then you know that the most recent Player Of The Week was awarded to Levante striker Obafemi Martins. You also would have read that he had turned 28 on Saturday, which left a lot of people thinking where this magnificent player has been all this time.
Martins was first seen playing for a small Italian club named Reggiana by Inter scouts 10 years ago. He was exceptionally fast and had great skill for such a young player. They immediately knew that he was going to be a great player and signed him when he was just 18 years old.
He spent 5 years at Inter scoring 28 official goals in over 80 official appearances for the team - his most famous, the final strike in the stunning 3-0 Champions League victory against Thierry Henry’s Arsenal at Highbury. He had an eye for goal, but just wasn’t as prolific as their other front-men: Ibra and the much troubled Adriano.
In 2006 he handed in a transfer request and was sold to Newcastle United. He also scored 28 official goals for them. He began wonderfully scoring 17 goals in his first season, but he only managed 11 in the next two seasons so they decided to sell him to Wolfsburg in Germany. They in turn sold him to Russia’s Rubin Kazan who then loaned him out to Birmingham City, where his fondly remembered for his last minute winner in the League Cup final against - surprise, surprise - Arsenal, yet again.
With these numerous transfers he hasn’t been able to make a name for himself at any one club. The only team where he has consistently shined is for the Nigerian national team. He has been capped 37 times and has scored 18 goals in his national colors.
Recently he has joined Spanish team Levante and has been playing extremely well. He has scored 4 goals in his first 5 games and his overall playing style seems perfectly suited for his new team.
Maybe this could be the one team that can tame the traveling speedster that is Obafemi Martins.
Written by Deon Beauzec
Follow him on Twitter @DIZZEL001
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