Real Madrid starlet played for Castilla hours after learning about his grandmother’s death

Real Madrid's young starlet, Joan Martinez, played for Castilla in a match against Ibiza on Friday night, despite learning of the tragic death of his grandmother just hours earlier. According to AS, the mercurial centre-back received devastating news that his grandmother, Matilde, had passed away before the match. However, Martinez chose not to share the news publicly, keeping the weight of his grief to himself as he took to the pitch.

He played through the sorrow, describing the match as the toughest of his life so far, in an act of love, strength, and respect for his beloved grandmother.

Martinez, born on August 20, 2007, had grown up with his grandmother's unwavering support from an early age. Rather than seek solace or excuses, he chose commitment and dedication, honoring her memory by playing through his grief. This was not merely an act of duty to Real Madrid, which would have understood his absence, but a personal desire to make his grandmother proud once more.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw, securing Castilla a valuable point against one of the division's leading sides. Despite the difficulty of the circumstances, Martinez continued to fight through the most challenging game of his career. While he has been doing well throughout the season, Martinez's performance has been inconsistent, leading to him being the third-choice centre-back at Castilla behind Oscar Naasei and Mario Rivas.

Nevertheless, Martinez's commitment to his standards has remained steadfast. If anything, he has continued to produce impressive numbers, leading the team in several defensive and passing metrics, including averaging 1.77 defensive duels won per 90 minutes, 6.2 interceptions, 10.33 recoveries, and 53.41 successful passes.