This is evening surprise information. While no rumor gave rise to a departure, Inigo Martinez should leave FC Barcelona in the coming hours. During the Asian tour, he received a very interesting offer from Al-Nassr where a certain Cristiano Ronaldo evolves. The Saudi club was looking for a left -handed central defender, if possible, to replace an Aymeric Laporte on departure. Barça loses a holder, even a power captain since Hunsi Flick had thought of him to succeed Ter Stegen, but also relieves his finances.
Sources do not all say the same thing about it. A transfer of € 8 million was first mentioned for certain Spanish media, when others quickly mentioned a free departure, after having broken amicably his last year of contract. Everyone agrees, however, that the abutments will save € 12 to 14 million in wages. This considerable sum will be able to release from the payroll and take a step towards the registration of new recruits and prolonged players this summer. We especially think of Wojciech Szczęsny but also Marcus Rashford and Joan Garcia.
Inigo Martinez had an agreement with Barça
After Mundo DeportivoMartinez will indeed go free because he had an agreement with management. In the event of an external offer, it would facilitate the conditions for its departure, precisely to reduce its payroll but also for service rendered. He never posed a problem and has always pushed the group forward. At 34, everyone also knows that the defender will probably no longer have the possibility of signing a last big contract. He had also refused a Saudi offer, already convinced by the Flick project, last summer. This time the situation changed.
After an excellent hinge season, associated with Pau Cubarsi, the former Athletic player feared having less playing time, seeing his level drop. He imagined hardly being able to have a new big season as was the last (46 games played, 1 goal). This scenario had been anticipated by Deco. “”We have five central defenders and one of them must leave“, Assured the sports director at Vanguardia A few days ago. There will therefore be no recruitment in this position, confirms MD. He will therefore remain Pau Cubarsí, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Eric Garcia, while Koundé can evolve in the axis. Flick even tested Gerard Martin on the left axis during the pre-season. Like what this departure is not a surprise for everyone.
