81-year-old man dead: Inter goalkeeper involved in horrific car accident

Inter Milan goalkeeper Josep Martinez was involved in a tragic accident on Tuesday morning, resulting in the death of an 81-year-old man in a wheelchair near the club’s training base.

The incident occurred in Fenegro, in the province of Como, as the Spaniard was driving to training. Despite immediate emergency response, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to reports from La Repubblica and ANSA, the 27-year-old Spaniard was driving to training when his car struck an 81-year-old man travelling in an electric wheelchair on Via Bergamo at approximately 9:40 a.m.

Josep Martinez in action during Internazionale training session at BPER Training Centre at Appiano Gentile on October 20, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Pistoia – Inter/Inter via Getty Images)

Emergency services, including an ambulance, helicopter rescue unit, and local police, arrived swiftly on the scene. Despite their best efforts, the elderly victim was pronounced dead shortly after the collision due to the severity of the impact.

Initial investigations by the Carabinieri suggest that early assessments indicate the victim could have suffered a sudden medical episode before crossing into the path of Martinez’s vehicle. Authorities are currently reconstructing the sequence of events to determine the precise cause of the incident.

Martinez was described by local reports as “visibly affected” by the incident. In response to the event, Inter Milan cancelled a pre-match press conference scheduled for Tuesday afternoon with head coach Cristian Chivu, who had been due to speak ahead of their Serie A clash with Fiorentina.

The club’s decision reflects the gravity of the situation and the emotional toll it has taken on the player and staff.

No official statement from Martinez himself has been released yet, as the legal and procedural processes remain ongoing.

Martinez began his youth career at Barca’s famed La Masia academy before moving to RB Leipzig in 2020. After a two-year stint in Germany, he joined Genoa and later transferred to Inter Milan in the summer of 2024.

The 27-year-old had been expected to be on the bench for Inter’s midweek game against Fiorentina, but his participation is now uncertain as he recovers emotionally from the tragic event.