CS2 News

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Official: MartinezSa joins HEROIC

eSports Fichajes

The wait is over. HEROIC have officially announced the signing of Antonio "MartinezSa" Martinez, confirming the report HLTV broke on Monday, when negotiations with Gentle Mates were already at an advanced stage. The 25-year-old Spanish AWPer thus becomes the centerpiece of the Norwegian organization's new project after a disappointing Cologne Major.

 

A signing that slipped away from FaZe

There's a backstory to the deal. MartinezSa had been in the shop window for weeks, ever since Gentle Mates announced their exit from Counter-Strike and put their entire Spanish roster up for sale. FaZe were the first big name to move for him, but talks stalled over the price: selling the team's star separately raised his cost and complicated the sale of the roster as a whole, and the Americans ended up opting for JBOEN on loan. HEROIC seized the opening to land the sniper.

 

The step he was missing

 

The move marks a milestone in the Spaniard's career: it will be the first time he plays on an English-speaking team. Until now, his entire career had unfolded in Spanish-speaking projects: Movistar Riders, 9z, and the Gentle Mates stint with the Iberian Soul core. His numbers back up the leap: in 2026 he is averaging a 1.12 rating across 58 LAN maps, with standout performances against opponents of the caliber of G2 and FURIA and a versatile profile, capable of both opening and closing rounds.

And there's a nod Spanish fans won't miss: MartinezSa becomes HEROIC's first permanent AWPer since his compatriot SunPayus, who left the club for G2 in 2025. The role returns to Spanish hands.

 

A lightning rebuild

 

The signing is the centerpiece of a makeover completed at full speed. In a matter of days, HEROIC have unveiled doto as their new head coach in place of TOBIZ, seen yxngstxr — the makeshift AWPer of the past six months following Alkaren's visa issues — step down, benched xfl0ud (who has already found a home at FUT), and rounded out the roster with the arrival of Brollan from MOUZ. An almost total facelift.

The new-look HEROIC won't have to wait to be tested: the team is set to play in just over a week at Stake Ranked Episode 3 in Barcelona, the first exam for doto's project with its new Spanish sniper.

 

 

 

Source: HLTV, Dust2.

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