Inter Milan’s goalkeeper Josep Martinez has been granted time off by the club and is receiving psychological support in the aftermath of a tragic incident where his car collided with and resulted in the death of an elderly man. The unfortunate event occurred on Tuesday morning as Martinez was on his way to the team’s training complex in Fenegro. The 25-year-old goalkeeper attempted to assist the 81-year-old man, identified as Paolo Saibene, after the collision.
Italian police reported that Martinez’s car struck the man, who was in an electric wheelchair on a cycle path alongside a road in the Como province. Despite Martinez’s efforts to help, the man passed away before medical assistance arrived at the scene. Initial investigations by the Carabinieri indicated that the man may have experienced a sudden medical issue just before the accident. Emergency services, including an air ambulance, were dispatched, but Saibene was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
In response to the incident, Inter Milan canceled manager Cristian Chivu’s press conference before their upcoming match against Fiorentina. Martinez, who was set to be on the bench, will no longer participate in the Serie A game. La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Martinez has been granted a week off by the club to recover, with his teammates and staff providing continuous support. The player also underwent routine medical tests at Saronno hospital.
Inter’s president, Beppe Marotta, expressed condolences to the deceased man’s family and expressed sympathy for Martinez, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. Martinez, who had previous stints at Barcelona, Las Palmas, RB Leipzig, and Genoa before joining Inter for €15 million (£13.2m), has made 12 appearances for the club. Notably, he was temporarily elevated to the starting role in recent matches against Sassuolo and Cagliari.
Martinez made his debut for the Spanish national team in a friendly against Lithuania in June 2021. The player is currently taking time off to cope with the tragic incident.