Barcelona have officially announced their second signing of the summer as Inigo Martinez joined the club on a free transfer from Basque side Athletic Club.
Martinez is the second 32-year-old free transfer to join the Catalans, following the recent addition of Ilkay Gundogan from Manchester City.
According to the official statement from the club, FC Barcelona have reached an agreement with Iñigo Martínez for him to join the team after his contract with Athletic Club expires.
The newcomer is poised to sign a two-year contract that will expire on June 30, 2025.
In addition, the contract includes a release clause of 400 million euros.
Meanwhile, interest in Martinez first emerged last summer, but Barcelona was unable to finalize a deal with Los Leones.
However, with Martinez’s contract expiring this summer, Barcelona took the opportunity to secure his signature on a free transfer.
Martinez will encounter formidable competition for a starting position in the upcoming season, as Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo have established themselves as the preferred central defensive duo.
Jules Kounde also prefers to play in the middle, but Xavi Hernandez only has Martinez as the sole left-footed option.
Inigo Martinez’s defensive prowess
He possesses excellent ball control, displays aggression on the field, and excels in aerial duels, making him an ideal candidate for the defensive position that Barcelona typically looks for.
He will join Xavi’s team with a significant amount of experience playing in the first division of Spanish football.
During his time at Real Sociedad and later at Athletic Club, he participated in more than 350 La Liga matches, during which he managed to score 22 goals.
Improving Barça’s backline further would involve having a player who is strong in the air, a great ball carrier, and defensively solid and Inigo Martinez is the right man.
Additionally, Iñigo Martínez is renowned for his exceptional leadership skills and fierce competitive spirit.
Inigo Martinez’s professional career
Martinez began his playing career at his local club, Aurrera de Ondarroa. However, at the age of 15, he joined the Real Sociedad youth system.
He made his debut in the top flight on August 27, 2011. After leading the Sociedad defense for six and a half seasons, he made the decision to sign with Athletic Club.
Since then, he has developed into the confident, resilient, and highly experienced central defender that he is today.
During the last season, he faced some challenges with a heel problem and later a calf strain, which resulted in him making only 18 appearances for Athletic Club.
Martinez will no doubt bring valuable experience to Barcelona’s defense, having been capped 20 times by Spain and making 177 appearances for Athletic over the past 6 seasons.
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