PETALING JAYA: The Catalan cast in the national football set-up will be expanded.
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have confirmed that another two professionals from Barcelona will be involved in the national team centralised camp preparing for the Merdeka Tournament.
Edu Martinez, who served as a physiotherapist at Barcelona for 12 years since 2013, where he worked with the first team from December 2022 to June 2024, arrived in Malaysia yesterday.
He will work closely with FAM physiotherapist Harris Zafran Ahmad Haraman to provide therapy and injury rehabilitation for players throughout the training camp.
The other professional is Dr Xavier Valle, a former team doctor at Barcelona since 2004 who took on the role of first-team doctor from the 2021-22 season till 2023-24.
Although Valle won’t be physically present in Kuala Lumpur, he will serve as a consulting doctor, working closely with the medical team to review all injury cases involving the national players throughout the centralised training camp.
A statement from the FAM said: “In June 2023, Dr Valle was with the Harimau Malaya squad in Kuala Terengganu during the centralised training camp for two friendlies against the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium, Gong Badak.
“Since then, Dr Valle has continued to work closely with the national team even during the regular football season in Malaysia, providing his insights on player injuries and will continue to do so in his role.”
Martinez and Valle are now part of the ‘’Barcelona contingent’’ working the Malaysian squad along with coach Pau Marti Vicente, assistant Juan Torres Garrido and fitness coach Oscar Cabeza.
In the Merdeka Turnament, Malaysia will open their campaign against the Philippines on Sept 4 while defending champions Tajikistan take on Lebanon.
The winners of the two matches will contest the final at the National Stadium on Sept 8.
