Obafemi Akinwunmi "Oba" Martins

[Jake]

I've heared this mentioned around, but I am yet to see a reliable source for it.

It would simply make me happy. Oba back to Inter when his contract runs out at the age of 26 :happy:

Well it was on yesterdays Gazzetta dello Sport and I find it very reliable, even if they didn't have the transfer fee right.

 

[J zanetti]

Well it was on yesterdays Gazzetta dello Sport and I find it very reliable, even if they didn't have the transfer fee right.

Well I certainly hope that is the case. I haven’t had much time in recent days to check Italian sources. Hopefully Frisko can dig out this information.
Poor soul did look miserable on those pictures. However I’m sure he will get attached to NC and their fans as they have one of the most passionate fans in England. All the best to Oba! It will be extremely interesting to follow his career in the EPL.

 

[Miki]

You don't learn to treasure someone until he is gone. That accurately describes how I'm feeling, at the moment.

I'm really sad to see Martins ply his trade in a jersey other than that of the black & blue stripes. Still, I wish him all the best of luck.

Thanks for everything, Oba! :star:

P.S. I've moved all Oba-related threads to the La Grande Inter forum.

Ciao,
Tim

 

[Jake]

Well I certainly hope that is the case. I haven’t had much time in recent days to check Italian sources. Hopefully Frisko can dig out this information.

Gazzetta dello Sport 24.8.2006

Martins vola a Newcastle: «Ciao Inter, mi mancherai»
Ma Moratti mantiene un diritto di prelazione.

Martins sbarca a Newcastle questa mattina: visite mediche e poi, in serata, la firma del contratto davanti al suo nuovo pubblico, pochi minuti prima della sfida di coppa Uefa contro i lettoni del Ventspils. Nelle casse nerazzurre finiranno poco meno di 18 milioni di euro (fu acquistato dalla Reggiana per 250mila euro), mentre il nigeriano guadagnerà circa 3 milioni a stagione fino al 2011, un anno di contratto in più rispetto a quello firmato con l'Inter lo scorso inverno. Ieri il saluto agli ormai ex compagni di squadra: Oba li ha abbracciati tutti alla Pinetina, non senza un pizzico di commozione, «perché qui sono cresciuto in tutti i sensi — ha detto — e lasciare l'Inter non può che essere doloroso per me». E' sinceramente dispiaciuto, a Milano sarebbe rimasto ancora a lungo, la maglia nerazzurra la sente veramente sua, «non sono stato io a voler lasciare l'Inter, lo sapete bene. Ma a volte le scelte sono obbligate, in attacco eravamo in tanti e io ero probabilmente l'unico con un certo tipo di mercato. Quando ho capito di esseresul mercato, comunque, ho subito voluto e cercato la Premier League. Poi, il Newcastle mi ha convinto sotto tutti i punti di vista».

A Newcastle lo aspettano a braccia aperte, va a prendere il posto di Michael Owen (infortunato gravemente a un ginocchio). Scherzi del destino: quando Oba segnava gol a raffica nella Primavera nerazzurra, Moratti lo paragonava proprio al velocissimo attaccante inglese. «Ringrazierò Moratti sempre — conclude —, per tutto ciò che ha fatto per me». Un patron nerazzurro che anche due giorni fa, a Lisbona, aveva speso parole importanti per il gioiellino di Lagos: «Una punta fortissima, con doti rare e gran senso del gol. Purtroppo, per noi è stata una cessione obbligata». Ma è forse sentendo queste parole che Branca ha ottenuto l'inserimento di una clausola nel contratto di cessione: in poche parole, l'Inter mantiene un diritto di prelazione nel momento in cui il Newcastle decidesse di rimettere sul mercato Martins.

 

[J zanetti]

Gazzetta dello Sport 24.8.2006

Martins vola a Newcastle: «Ciao Inter, mi mancherai»
Ma Moratti mantiene un diritto di prelazione.


Ma è forse sentendo queste parole che Branca ha ottenuto l'inserimento di una clausola nel contratto di cessione: in poche parole, l'Inter mantiene un diritto di prelazione nel momento in cui il Newcastle decidesse di rimettere sul mercato Martins.

That is fab! Something you wouldn’t expect from our management! Thanks for the link – very much appreciated.

 

[Hasan]

Just look at him, he just needs a sign over his head saying "I miss Inter already".

Phuck, this sucks, big time.

You'r so right,I never thinked that I will be sad when he leaves, but when I rememer all that missed chanses...
Good luck Oba!!!

 

[cool_cuchu]

I am seeing this move in positive way... This move will benefit martins more...
I see him having more chance to become superstar in england than anywhere else...
To me, it is better to see martins to become a hot player with 30 millions price to buy, rather than keeping him here and he's never reaching that level..
It's a journey martins shall take...
I am a bit sad he's leaving, but I actually am happier to see him out to Newcastle... Not that I want him out, but I want him to be a star more badly..
To see whether martins can be better than rooney.. or reyes or even henry..

and salute for FI management for putting his name in la grande inter..
he must make some kind of record being in this category so young...!

 

[vanbastian]

Oba has a dream that he wants to be a forever member of Inter
but the fact is curel
Best wishes to u , Oba!
You'll never go alone.

 

[Hammoudi]

Alright, as usual, nothing happens when we have these sorts of discussions.

So who's writing it?

Ah sorry Jimmy, you can go ahead. After reading his parting comments and seeing his sad pictures, I find it very hard to criticize Martins. I guess I can never be a journalist

 

[ForzaLuca!]

I will post match reports on Oba after every toon game he plays if people want me to so you can keep in touch with his progress over here in tyneside

 

[cool_cuchu]

well, Oba give me reasons to see EPL games..
I was hoping for Emre to be one last time, but he failed to play regularly there..

 

[UhUhOleguer]

poor guy...from Milano to Newcastle.

Good luck oba...the clause in the contract is really well done!

 

[cool_cuchu]

I will post match reports on Oba after every toon game he plays if people want me to so you can keep in touch with his progress over here in tyneside

do that, I would be happy..., man....
I may not open newcastle website often or watch EPL games regularly...
so this could be helpful

 

[kova9]

Oh just look at him... We all know oba and I'm sure to tell that this isn't a happy face!!

He misses Inter already, we miss him too, and I'm sure he will be back one day!!

Thanks for everything Oba, and good luck!! I'll see you in a couple of years!

 

[Shahni]

A very sad day... Martins representing the spirit of Inter... you could see every time he played, what it meant to him, and the passion, and the nature he has... raw! He's my favourite player (and my first one since Matthaus) coz they gave their hearts and bodies to the cause... Anyone who sees Inter play over the past few years would see our other strikers stand around, bend over and pull their socks up, whereas Martins would constantly be engaged in the game... even in friendlies... it's very sad and he is still so young - I hope Inter did the wise thing and have a buy-back clause and I wish Oba Oba the best of luck at Newcastle... he didn't look too happy yesterday, but I guess once he gets on the pitch... he'll give it his all and the Newcastle fans are perhaps the best in the world for the way they revere their players... Someone said that Oba was sold because he's too kind, the easiest one to "get rid of"... partly... Martins is the last player I'd sell if I was at Inter... he'd even be ahead of Zanetti, Cordoba and Cambiasso, but one has to understand the footballing aspect. Mancini is a good coach, his style of play is excellent and Martins didn't quite fit it. With the buildup of play (we play in the same style as Wenger's Arsenal) Martins didn't have the opportunity to use his pace or running at defenders because there was no room behind teams/too compressed play and he wasn't compact enough... part of this is because the Adriano-laziness-factor... when Adriano is moving and running it gave space to Martins to exploit - when Adriano played good, so too did Oba... but Adriano god knows what happened to him, let's hope he sorts it out this year, ALL year... Also from a sporting aspect, Opta's analysis (see it at skysports.com) shows where Martins is lacking - out and out finishing ability. I was convinced that within the next two years in Italy he would develop this and become the most feared striker in the world - but it'll take him a shorter time in the Premiership... now we need another to blood another young speed demon/attacking midfielder... TEVEZ/TORRES... perhaps... Sobis looks to be ours when we want him because our deal with Santander... or a youth product... though none of them look ready YET... we should sign Foti maybe... or Daniele Cacia... but nothing can replace Oba Oba... no more backflips, no more performances of heart like Inter 3-2 Samp... or like the one against Inter 4-3 Benfica...

 

[ForzaLuca!]

Oh just look at him... We all know oba and I'm sure to tell that this isn't a happy face!!

I think thats just wishful thinking mate from what i saw last night at SJP and on the news/press conferences the kids beaming

 

[ForzaLuca!]

Hers's a better picture....



Should make his debut on Sunday away against Aston Villa.

Oh and its finally on Inter.it...

http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=23725&L=en

 

[brehme1989]

If I had a proper way to do some more research, I'd write it, but since I'm using dial-up now, it's hard for me. So Jimmy, you are the pro, you do it

 

[kova9]

I'm still not convinced.. Maybe its wishful thinking, but if you compare his smile with Inter and now there is a big diference... He might be smiling but its not from the heart..

 

[Hasan]

Nice avatar kova, that is acid smile, bu I think only Newcastlle fans and Moratti have real smiles on their faces.