Martinez to leave in Bayern clear-out

Bayern Munich confirmed Tuesday that veteran Spanish midfielder Javi Martinez will be the third member of its treble-winning squad to leave the club world champion at the end of the season, along with head coach Hansi Flick.

Martinez joined in 2012 from Athletic Bilbao for a then club-record $48 million, winning the Bundesliga in all eight seasons he has so far completed in Germany.

Bayern is on the brink of winning a ninth straight league title this Saturday.

Martinez was also part of the Bayern squads which won the treble of Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League titles in 2013 and 2020.

Headed goals by Martinez helped Bayern win the UEFA Super Cup in both 2013, against Chelsea in Prague, and again in 2020, against Sevilla in Budapest.

"I'm very proud and happy to have been part of the FC Bayern family for nine years... and am very happy about the many titles we won together," Martinez said in a statement.

He joins defenders Jerome Boateng and David Alaba who are also out of contract at the end of the season, while Flick has asked to be released.

RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann has already been named as Flick's replacement for 2021-22.

Alaba, 28, is reportedly set to join Real Madrid after failing to agree a contract extension with Bayern, while Martinez and Boateng, both 32, have not been offered new deals.

AFP