The Spaniard will complete 9z’s roster ahead of the 2024 season

This news from the esports scene highlights significant player movements among professional Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) teams.

Antonio “Martinez” Martinez, a key player for Movistar Riders, is reportedly set to join 9z Team. This shift comes after Movistar Riders underwent another major change, losing their long-time captain Alejandro “alex” Masanet to Ninjas in Pyjamas and rehiring David “dav1g” Granado Bermudo as their leader.

Martinez, who joined Movistar Riders in August 2022 as a replacement for Alvaro “SunPayus” Garcia, has been a standout player for the team, with an impressive average rating of 1.11. Despite his individual performance, Movistar Riders have faced challenges, with fluctuating results. Their notable achievements include winning ESL Challenger Melbourne in April and securing a 5-8th place finish at ESL Pro League Season 18. However, their overall performance, particularly in online matches, has been inconsistent.

The move to 9z Team for Martinez would fill a critical gap for 9z

As they have been looking for a new AWPer following the departure of Santino “try” Rigal due to health issues.

9z’s earlier interest in Lucas “nqz” Soares from Legacy did not materialize, as nqz was eventually signed by paiN. This player transfer highlights the dynamic nature of esports team compositions and the ongoing search for the right mix of players to achieve success in highly competitive environments like CS:GO tournaments.