HEROIC are making a move to sign Antonio "MartinezSa" Martinez, HLTV has learned, and are in advanced negotiations with Gentle Mates to secure the AWPer's services.
Gentle Mates are currently going through a turbulent summer after closely missing out on an invite to the IEM Cologne Major. The French organization announced that they would no longer remain in Counter-Strike and have offered their roster to organizations such as Heretics and KOI.
At the same time, interest in the team's star AWPer, MartinezSa, has increased, putting the 25-year-old in FaZe's orbit before they signed Jason "JBOEN" Boe Nielsen on loan from BIG Academy for the rest of 2026.
HEROIC, who have not been able to use AWPer Alimzhan "Alkaren" Bitimbay since the beginning of the year due to visa issues, are now looking towards the Spaniard as a reliable asset.
MartinezSa, now close to signing his first contract for an English-speaking team, has been in Spanish-speaking teams since his early days with VELOX, to joining the Gentle Mates core back in the Movistar Riders days, as well as during a stint in Latin America with 9z in 2024 and 2025.
The Spanish AWPer posted a 1.14 rating with Gentle Mates since joining the French organization in August of 2025, as he and his teammates traveled to VRS LANs in the fight for a Major spot, played online tournaments, and attended the occasional tier one event.
MartinezSa would take the place of Simon "yxngstxr" Boije, who became the team's makeshift AWPer when Alkaren was moved to the bench.
Gentle Mates
Antonio 'MartinezSa' Martinez
Alejandro 'alex' Masanet
Alejandro 'mopoz' Fernández-Quejo Cano
Pere 'sausol' Solsona Saumell
David 'dav1g' Granado Bermudo
Angel 'repk3ys' Gracia Navarro
- Movistar Riders
- KOI
- VELOX
Alimzhan 'Alkaren' Bitimbay
Jason 'JBOEN' Boe Nielsen
9z
Maximiliano 'max' Gonzalez
Franco 'dgt' Garcia
Ignacio 'meyern' Meyer
Luciano 'luchov' Herrera
Matias 'HUASOPEEK' Ibañez Hernandez
Bruno 'BIT' Fukuda Lima
BIG Academy
David 'prosus' Hesse
Phillip 'w1dow' Hemke
Anton 'doni' Savienkov
Timo 'Spiidi' Richter
FaZe
David 'frozen' Čerňanský
Russel 'Twistzz' Van Dulken
Jakub 'jcobbb' Pietruszewski
Jason 'JBOEN' Boe Nielsen
Niclas 'enkay J' Krumhorn
Antonio 'MartinezSa' Martinez
Heretics
Simon 'yxngstxr' Boije
HEROIC
Yasin 'xfl0ud' Koç
Linus 'nilo' Bergman
Tim 'susp' Ångström
Christoffer 'Chr1zN' Storgaard
Simon 'yxngstxr' Boije
Tobias 'TOBIZ' Theo