Lahm hails ´quality´ Martinez

Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm has praised Javi Martinez in the wake of the Spaniard’s first training session with the club.

The Spain international signed a five-year deal with Bayern earlier this week to complete his 40 million-euro move from Athletic Bilbao.

Martinez has already impressed his new team-mate during his short time at the club.

“I’ve seen a bit of him in the past, and I reckon he’s a very good footballer,” Lahm told the club’s website.

“(Coach Jupp) Heynckes introduced him to the rest of the team and then he went out and just played football. He fitted in straight away.

“My initial impression is that he’s quality. He’ll help us a lot.”

Shot-stopper Manuel Neuer was equally pleased with the versatile midfielder’s arrival at the club.

But the Germany goalkeeper warned that Martinez would need time to find his best form in his new surroundings.

“It’s great that he’s here. He lost his first practice match, but he threw himself into it and won a lot of balls in the air,” Neuer said.

“He was very good, he’s still very young, and he’s starting out on a great career. There’s a lot coming at him from all directions, a new club, a move abroad. He’ll need time before we can say he’s really arrived. He’s not been signed just for one season, but for the long term.”