After months of uncertainty and speculation, Iberian Soul have officially announced the signing of Antonio “MartinezSa” Martinez — the AWPer who spent the past 18 months abroad but is now returning home. The move completes the team’s starting five and marks the revival of the 2023 Movistar Riders roster — the only Spanish lineup to win an international LAN trophy.
“Extradition complete”: MartinezSa is officially the fifth
The announcement was made with a touch of humor — in the signature social media style of Iberian Soul. On Twitter, the team posted:
Parece que ya podemos anunciar a nuestro quinto!! 😜
Tras horas de trabajo en los despachos hemos logrado su extradición de vuelta a España 😁
Estará con nosotros jugando en esta ROMAN IMPERIUM: @MartiinezSa https://t.co/BVFagcXaWQ pic.twitter.com/sMkNQjlD9H
— Iberian Soul (@IberianSoul) July 23, 2025
The post was accompanied by a meme of MartinezSa with the caption “CALMA” — a nod to the long and complicated journey leading to his return. Behind the scenes, it involved releasing him from his 9z contract, securing free agent status, and — according to HLTV.org — reaching a verbal agreement with French organization Gentle Mates, who are reportedly acquiring the roster.
Full circle: Spanish core reunited
With MartinezSa on board, Iberian Soul now fully mirrors the legendary Movistar Riders roster that won ESL Challenger Melbourne 2023, beating the likes of Complexity and Bad News Eagles. Back then, the team impressed with its aggressive playstyle, deep map pool, and exceptional chemistry. However, the project dissolved in 2024 — MartinezSa moved to 9z, stadodo replaced him in KOI, and the rest of the squad went separate ways.
This reunion is not just a nostalgic comeback for former teammates but an ambitious attempt to build something greater on the foundation of past success. The team has already made waves on the local LAN scene by winning Intel epic45 in Kettering, UK, with smooya standing in. That victory helped boost the team to 34th in the global VRS rankings — the highest in the project’s history.
What’s next? Roman debut at Imperium
MartinezSa’s debut with the new-look Iberian Soul will come at ROMAN IMPERIUM, a LAN event in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, featuring 16 European teams including SAW, Rhyno, and Metizport. The tournament will serve as a key test for the newly reunited lineup — both tactically and emotionally.
For MartinezSa, it’s also a chance to reset his career after a mixed stint with 9z. The Latin American squad gave him moments to shine — most notably a semifinal run at IEM Dallas 2024 and wins over Liquid and Imperial — but constant roster instability and the lack of structured practice limited his full potential.
Iberian Soul roster after signing MartinezSa:
- Alejandro “alex” Masanet – IGL, experienced top-10 leader
- Alejandro “mopoz” Fernández-Quejo Cano – aggressive entry
- Pere “sausol” Solsona Saumell – support/anchor
- David “dav1g” Granado Bermudo – flex roles
- Antonio “MartinezSa” Martinez – primary AWPer
- Eloy “deLonge” Suárez – head coach
Context: pending transfer to Gentle Mates
According to sources close to the team, the entire Iberian Soul roster (including the coach) already has a preliminary agreement in place with French organization Gentle Mates, who are looking to enter the international CS scene following a successful launch in VALORANT. With MartinezSa now on board, the deal could soon move to its final stages — potentially presenting the lineup under a new banner.
Even if the transfer isn’t completed immediately, the current Iberian Soul roster stands as the most competitive Spanish lineup in CS2. With the exception of SAW (featuring stadodo), this squad represents the Iberian Peninsula’s latest and strongest bid to leave a mark on the Tier-1 scene.
