£39 million release clauses are never usually inserted into contracts for fourth-choice defenders, so when Barcelona splashed out £13 million in June 2008 to acquire the services of Martin Caceres of Villareal, they must have foreseen a different potential. Having established himself as a fine defender on loan at struggling Recreativo Huelva, with maturity far beyond his 21 years, Barcelona were confident that they had just signed an adequate long-term partner for the returning La Masia graduate Gerard Pique. Injuries dictated that Caceres would never get a proper crack at establishing himself, and found himself languishing behind Carlos Puyol, Gerard Pique and Rafael Marquez throughout the season. 13 La Liga appearances were all that the young man was afforded to stake his claim to represent one of the greatest clubs on earth, before being granted a merciful execution shipped out on a season-long loan deal to Italian giants Juventus.
''The truth is that I have not had the minutes that the minutes that I would like. But I also understand that this is my first season at a big club. Im adjusting, I am calm and I will do what the boss tells me. I am ready to play the minutes he tells me, always to help the team. I hope to get my chance. Martin Caceres, 2008.
An undoubtedly promising centre-half, Caceres went on to sign for Sevilla in 2011 following a successful loan stint, before returning to the Stadio del Alpi in 2012, to pen a four year deal. He has since caught the eye of an array of top clubs for his impressive performances at the heart of the Serie A champions, but will rue the CV-stained year spent struggling to make an impression in Barcelona.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
