I had to rub my eyes and question my existence on this fine Saturday afternoon after reading that Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez came up with concept of 'The Hunger Games' franchise. Well that's the belief of Martinez himself, who has bizarrely claimed that he wrote exactly the same plot as the popular novels written by American novelist Suzanne Collins when he was a teenager. The novels were eventually turned into a series of movies featuring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. Advert 10 So, what did the Spaniard have to say about this pressing matter? Lmfao at javi Martinez - Ronalgringo (@Sir_Chief_) February 8, 2019 In an interview with German publication Socrates, Martinez recalled the time he was sitting in a cinema and had a sudden realisation of what was going on: "Writing is a great pleasure for me, even as a teenager I started to write a book. And believe it or not, the plot was pretty much the same as 'The Hunger Games'" he said. Advert 10 "It was strange (to see the Hunger Games movie). "I was sitting in the cinema and thought: 'It does not exist, that's my idea, which I had years ago, the creators must have stolen my computer!' He later tweeted about the incredible story on Twitter and well, I don't think this bizarre series of events will ever be topped. Take it away, Javi. Advert 10 I've read some strange things in my time, folks, but this might just be up there with the very strangest.<doc-sep>TF-Images/Getty Images Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez has suggested he could have become a literary legend were it not for a career in football, saying he began writing a book similar to The Hunger Games series. The first entry in the fantasy trilogy was released in 2008 before its film adaptation came out four years later. Martinez told Socrates (h/t Goal's Chris Burton): "Writing is a great pleasure for me, even as a teenager I started to write a book. And believe it or not, the plot was pretty much the same as The Hunger Games'." It wasn't until Martinez watched the first film of the series in the cinema that he recognised the material: "That was strange, I was sitting in the cinema and thought: 'It does not exist, that's my idea, which I had years ago, the creators must have stolen my computer.'" The midfielder was still at former club Athletic Bilbao in 2008, and it seems improbable author Suzanne Collins would venture to the Basque Country for inspiration on her dystopian novel. Bayern broke their transfer record to sign Martinez for €40 million—since broken by Corentin Tolisso—and the Spain international likely takes home a handsome pay packet at the Allianz Arena. Still, that may not compare with the royalties he could have been due had he penned the series that would go on to spawn four films and more than $2.9 billion combined in cinemas worldwide, per BoxOfficeMojo.com. Video Play Button Videos you might like Instead, he'll have to settle for life at Bayern, where he has won the Bundesliga in each of his six seasons so far, not to mention clinching the UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup in 2013.<doc-sep>Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez has bizarrely claimed that he came up with the concept for 'The Hunger Games'. Suzanne Collins' trilogy of books was hugely popular and has been an even bigger hit on the big screen. The story focuses on a futuristic world where members of poverty stricken 'districts' fight for survival in a compulsory televised battle. Javi Martinez has claimed that he came up with the concept for 'The Hunger Games' Over 26 million copies of the books have been sold while the movies have grossed over 2.29 billion worldwide. And Martinez believes he missed out on a fortune having come up with a similar idea in his younger years. The 30-year-old Spain international told German magazine Socrates: 'Writing is a great pleasure for me, even as a teenager I started to write a book. Suzanne Collins' trilogy of books was hugely popular and has been a huge hit on the big screen 'And believe it or not, the plot was pretty much the same as 'The Hunger Games'.' The 35-year-old also admitted he found it difficult to watch when the first film hit cinemas. He added: 'That was strange, I was sitting in the cinema and thought: 'It does not exist, that's my idea, which I had years ago, the creators must have stolen my computer'<doc-sep>
Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martínez has strangely claimed he came up with the concept for "The Hunger Games" before American author Suzanne Collins published the first book of her trilogy in 2008. The books have since been turned into Hollywood blockbuster films, starring the likes of Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth. The first film was released four years after Collins' opening book. In one of the most bizarre stories you're bound to read this week, World Cup winner Martínez claims that the creators of "The Hunger Games" stole the plot idea from a book that he was writing as a teenager. " Writing is a great pleasure for me, even as a teenager I started to write a book," Martínez told Socr​ates Magazine. " And believe it or not, the plot was pretty much the same as 'The Hunger Games'. Javi Martinez claiming to have written The Hunger Games as a teenager, because football news really never slows down — Chris Deeley (@ThatChris1209) February 9, 2019 " That was strange, I was sitting in the cinema and thought: ‘It does not exist, that's my idea, which I had years ago, the creators must have stolen my computer’.” Bayern Munich's Martínez might have missed out on the chance to be the brains behind "The Hunger Games" - which many believe is a rip off of science fiction film Battle Royale, released in 2000 - but he admits he is still eager to put pen to paper to offer football fans an insight into the life of a professional. " I am very pleased. I love to write," he added. " The idea of bringing readers closer to the life of a footballer from a very personal perspective fascinates me.