"He's history" - Sociedad let fans swap Martinez shirts

Real Sociedad were determined to consign defender Inigo Martinez's name to history following his transfer to bitter rivals Athletic Bilbao, offering aggrieved fans who had bought shirts with his name on the back to exchange them for free.

Martinez, 26, once pledged his loyalty to the San Sebastian club having risen through the ranks by saying he would "never go to the other side".

But his words proved hollow on Tuesday as he completed a club-record 32 million euro ($40 million) switch to Athletic.

"From tomorrow afternoon Real Sociedad will offer fans who don't want to wear the name of Inigo Martinez on their shirts the chance to swap it for this season's shirt with the name they want, completely free of charge," said a message on the club's website, titled "Now he's history".

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Íñigo Martínez con la camiseta del Athletic

Image credit: From Official Website

The audacious transfer was achieved through Athletic selling Aymeric Laporte to Manchester City for 65 million euros, allowing them to pay Spain international Martinez's release clause.

Sociedad at least had the cash to sanction the shirt gesture to their supporters who had watched Martinez's progress over seven years at the club.

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