Bayern Munich’s Javi Martinez calls Joshua Kimmich the best “6” in the world

In a recent conversation with kicker (as captured by Bundesliga.com), Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez said that Joshua Kimmich is the best defensive midfielder in the game today.

“Josh, maybe followed by (Real Madrid’s) Casemiro and (Chelsea’s) N’golo Kante,” Martinez said quickly when asked the question.

Martinez, who was among football’s best defensive midfielders in his prime, also talked over what it was likely when moving to Bayern Munich as a young player and just how big of a role Jupp Heynckes played in the transfer.

Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

“It was an honor and I am always going to be Bayern’s biggest fan,” Martinez said. “I will always be grateful that (Heynckes) brought me here and desperately wanted me. He called me and said ‘I want you to be an important part of Bayern Munich.’”

As for what making that kind of move entails, Martinez was amazed about what the environment in Munich was — and still is — like every day.

“It’s incredible if you think about it,” said Martinez. “People often think that it’s easy, but it’s actually very complicated and there’s a lot of hard work that goes into it on a daily basis. I had always dreamed of winning this [Champions League] trophy, and there I was, winning it at the end of my first season.”