Who is Marc Bartra? Borussia Dortmund star injured in team bus explosion before Champions League clash – all you need to know
MARC BARTRA was hospitalised after three bombs exploded next to the Borussia Dortmund team coach ahead of their clash with Monaco.
The former Barcelona star required surgery after the blast prior to the Champions League quarter-final first-leg in Germany.
The three devices were “planted in a roadside hedge” before a fourth was found near the team hotel.
A number of clubs and footballers around the world sent out their best wishes to the stopper after the attack.
Here’s everything we know about Marc Bartra:
Who is Marc Bartra?
The 26-year-old was born on January 15, 1991 in Sant Jaume, Spain.
He has a twin brother, named Eric, who came through Barcelona’s academy alongside him.
Bartra started a relationship with Grand Prix motorcycle racing journalist Melissa Jimenez in February 2014.
They welcomed daughter Gala into the world in August of the following year.
Who has Marc Bartra played for?
He began his career in Espanyol’s academy before Barcelona snapped him up in 2002.
Having spent three seasons with the Barca B side, he was promoted into the senior squad at the Nou Camp in 2012.
Barta made 59 La Liga appearances for the club before joining German giants Dortmund on a four-year deal in June 2016.
READ MORE ON THE BORUSSIA DORTMUND BOMBING STORY
- Borussia Dortmund team bus hit by explosion as ‘THREE bombs hidden in roadside hedge to detonate’
- Dortmund’s clash with Monaco rescheduled for Wednesday after blast on German side’s team bus
- Marc Bartra has surgery on broken bone in wrist after being hit by debris from bomb blast on Borussia Dortmund bus
- Roman Burki, who sat next to Marc Bartra, reveals Dortmund players all dived to the floor in panic
- Monaco fans offered beds by Borussia Dortmund as Champions League game rearranged after bomb
- Monaco fans chant for Dortmund in show of solidarity after explosion on team bus calls game off
Has Marc Bartra played at international level?
Bartra won 37 youth caps for Spain stepping up into the senior side.
He made his debut in November 2013 as he played the full match against Equatorial Guinea.
The defender was part of Vicente del Bosque’s squad for Euro 2016.
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Bartra made big headlines only last week when he went out of his way to chase down a Dortmund fan who sat on her own amongst a sea of Schalke fans in the Ruhr derby.
He sent a campaign out on Twitter after the 1-1 draw to find Dortmund supporter Steffi and after tracking her down gave her his shirt at the club's training ground.