Obafemi Martins: Where has La Liga’s latest star been?

After Obfemi Martins promising run of form for Levante in the last few weeks, a lot of people are wondering where this magnificent player has been all this time.

Martins was first seen playing for a small Italian club named Reggina by Inter scouts 10 years ago. He was exceptionally fast and had great skill for such a young player. They immediately knew he was going to be a great player and signed him when he was just 18 years old.

He spent five years at Inter scoring 28 official goals in over 80 official appearances for the team – his most famous, the final strike in the stunning 3-0 Champions League victory against Thierry Henry’s Arsenal at Highbury. He had an eye for goal, but just wasn’t as prolific as their other front-men – Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the much troubled Adriano.

In 2006, he handed in a transfer request and was sold to Newcastle United. He also scored 28 official goals for them. He began wonderfully, scoring 17 goals in his first season, but he only managed 11 in the next two seasons, and was sold to Wolfsburg in Germany. They in turn sold him to Russia’s Rubin Kazan who then loaned him out to Birmingham City, where he is fondly remembered for his last minute winner in the League Cup final against – surprise, surprise – Arsenal, yet again.

With these numerous transfers he hasn’t been able to make a name for himself at any one club. The only team where he has consistently shone is for the Nigerian national team. He has been capped 37 times and has scored 18 goals in his national colors.

Recently, he joined Spanish team Levante and has been playing extremely well. He has scored four goals in his first five games and his overall playing style seems perfectly suited for his new team.

This could be the one team that can tame the traveling speedster that is Obafemi Martins.