Fran Martínez: "I had offers from Primera RFEF but I opted for CD Estepona"

The Osasuna goalkeeper discusses his arrival at the club, Manolo Sánchez's project, the atmosphere at the Muñoz Pérez stadium, and the team's aspirations for this season on Deportes COPE Marbella.

CD Estepona has started the 2026/27 season with a positive feeling. The goalless draw against Xerez CD earned them a point and, above all, the impression that Manolo Sánchez 's team is ready to compete from the very beginning.

One of the key figures in that debut was Fran Martínez . The goalkeeper kept a clean sheet in his first official match with CD Estepona and was featured this week on Deportes COPE Marbella , where he spoke with Diego Partida about his first few months at the club and his expectations for the new season.

During the interview, Fran Martínez made one of the most significant statements about his arrival in Estepona: he had offers to continue in the First Federation , but decided to commit to the red-and-white project.

"I've had offers from Primera RFEF too, to be honest, but I know what Estepona wants to do. I heard great things about the coach, about how things were going here, and honestly, I didn't hesitate much."

The goalkeeper, who arrived from Juventud de Torremolinos , explained that he initially planned to continue with the Malaga team, but a change in the sporting direction and management of the club meant that he had to look for a new destination.

That's when CD Estepona appeared.

"I think it's a very good place to be, to grow with the club, and it's an ambitious place."

"Very few teams in the First Federation have the resources that we have here."

Fran Martínez also wanted to highlight the internal workings he has found since his arrival at the Estepona team.

The goalkeeper highlighted the club's professionalism and assured that the resources available are even better than those he has found in higher-level teams.

"I can assure you that very few teams in the First Federation, let alone the Second Federation, have the resources and work with the professionalism that is found here."

A structure that, in his opinion, should be the foundation for sporting results to follow.

"That has to come first, and then the results on the field will surely follow."

This assessment reflects CD Estepona's commitment to continue growing not only on the field, but also in the overall functioning of the organization.

A “very good starting point” against Xerez CD

The first game of the season ended in a 0-0 draw against Xerez CD, although Fran Martínez believes the result could have been different.

The goalkeeper highlighted the team's collective performance and the chances created during the match.

"We feel very good, we are quite comfortable against a rival with very good players, who is also a very good team, so I think it is a very good starting point."

Fran acknowledged that it was a shame not to have been able to convert some of the opportunities created, but he was proud of what he saw on the pitch.

"With all the effort we put in, we couldn't make any of it happen, but that's football and I left very proud of what I saw."

The goalkeeper is also clear that, if the team maintains this ability to create chances, the goals will eventually come.

"The important thing is to create, and the team creates very easily."

The fans, one of the biggest surprises for Fran Martínez

Another aspect that has attracted the most attention from the new Osasuna goalkeeper has been the atmosphere he found at the Francisco Muñoz Pérez stadium.

Fran already knew the stadium as a visitor, but he admits that the feeling in his debut with CD Estepona was completely different.

"I remember coming here as a visitor, when other people came, but it wasn't the same as what I felt the other day."

The goalkeeper especially highlighted the energy he received from the stands.

"I really enjoyed having that energy and having the fans so close."

A connection that the footballer considers important for a team that aspires to compete for ambitious goals this season.

The goal: to be a team, not just a squad

Fran Martínez also wanted to highlight the difference between having a good squad and getting all its members to function as a true team.

"Squad, not team."

An idea he developed during the interview when explaining that the goal of the dressing room is not only to bring together quality players, but to ensure that everyone is connected and competes as a unit.

"The intention is not to be a squad with names, but to be a real team."

The goalkeeper believes that the main objective is to transform individual talent into a competitive unit.

"We are working hard to build a great team and our intention is not to be just a squad, but a real team."

And, despite the fact that the group has only been working together for a few weeks, Fran assures that the adaptation has been especially quick.

"I'm surprised at how quickly that has been achieved because it's not normal to achieve it in just one preseason."

The goalkeeper attributes part of that process to the work done by Manolo Sánchez and his coaching staff , as well as the good integration between the players who continued from last season and the new additions.

A template with many alternatives

During the interview there was also time to talk about the attacking players and the competition within the squad.

Fran Martínez believes that this variety can become one of the team's greatest strengths.

"We have different strikers who can contribute different things at different times in matches and rounds."

The goalkeeper also highlighted the defensive work of the attackers and their involvement off the ball.

"They are very hard-working people, they don't switch off without a ball."

Among the names mentioned during the conversation was Pablo Aguilar , about whom Fran wanted to send a message of reassurance after having spoken with him.

"He does things very well. So he's going to have his moments during the season."

He also spoke about the latest signings, Bakary Sow and Pablo Arriaza , who joined the team after the season had already started and who still need to adapt to Manolo Sánchez's playing style.

A goalkeeper who wants to command from the back

Fran Martínez also explained how he understands his position and what he intends to contribute to CD Estepona during the season.

For the goalkeeper, the first obligation is obvious:

"The first thing a goalkeeper has to do is make saves, and try to make a lot of saves."

But there is another aspect that he considers fundamental: communication.

"Above all, I focus on stopping, being brave, and being very communicative."

The goalkeeper understands that this communication becomes even more important in a team that takes risks and seeks to attack.

"I always say that we spend more time talking than acting."

A feature that aims to become one of its main tools to help the defensive line throughout the season.

Fran Martínez's challenge: to win and to want to win again.

When asked about his individual goals, the goalkeeper preferred to put the team above any personal statistics.

"On an individual level, the truth is that I don't even consider things."

Their objective is directly related to the team's performance:

"At a collective level, to help the team get as high up as possible."

And he summed up his mindset for this season in a very clear way:

"Winning one weekend and then getting to the next weekend wanting to win and wanting to win."

Fran acknowledges that Manolo Sánchez's model is unique, but assures that he has adapted well to the coach's idea.

"This year everyone who goes to the stadium is going to see real football."

The interview ended with a direct message for the CD Estepona fans.

With more than 1,500 season ticket holders and an ever-increasing response in the stands of the Muñoz Pérez stadium, Fran Martínez wanted to encourage the fans to continue supporting the team.

The goalkeeper spoke from his own experience as a football fan and explained what he expects to find when someone goes to a stadium.

"If I pay, if I take my daughter to football, I like to have fun."

And he believes that is precisely what CD Estepona is offering:

"What the team generates is fun for the spectator, real football, going towards the opponent, going forward."

The goalkeeper knows that no one can guarantee what will happen at the end of the season, but he is clear about what kind of football the team wants to offer.

"This year everyone who goes to the stadium is going to see that, so we need it to also translate that into victories."

CD Estepona will return to the Francisco Muñoz Pérez stadium this Saturday at 9:00 PM to face Linares Deportivo in the second round of the Second Federation, seeking their first victory of the season.

Listen to the full interview

Fran Martínez's interview with Diego Partida on Deportes COPE Marbella can be heard in its entirety from the COPE Marbella space of CD Estepona Fans .

The full program is available on our website, with the interview with Fran Martínez starting at minute 36 .

Listen to the full program on CD Estepona Fans · COPE Marbella

Interview: COPE Sports Marbella.
Image: CD Estepona.