Sant Joan DespíIñigo Martínez already speaks as a Blaugrana player. The 32-year-old central Biscay has been the first of the three Barça signings to speak. In a presentation at the Ciutat Esportiva de Sant Joan Despí, because the Camp Nou is under construction, Martínez explained his reasons for changing the Athletic Club to the Blaugrana entity. “We are convinced that we are incorporating a great centre-back”, celebrated the president Joan Laporta in an event in which neither the top Blaugrana leader nor the director of football Mateu Alemany attended to the press, if not they were limited to two initial speeches. “About a year ago, both the sports management and the coaching staff were aware that the defense had to be strengthened. We already knew that we needed a replacement for Gerard Piqué [que al desembre passat s’acabaria retirant]. A left-wing center that would suit Barça’s economic situation. We knew that negotiating with the Athletic Club is always very difficult, but with Iñigo the circumstance was that the contract was coming to an end,” said Alemany.
The player’s willingness to come has also been key. That, with the change from Basque to Catalan taxation, he will receive a salary lower than the 5 million euros he received when he was on the payroll of the Bilbao entity. In fact, the story of the signing of Iñigo Martínez could have happened six years ago. Ernesto Valverde, who sat on the Blaugrana bench, and Barça were linked with his incorporation, but Javier Mascherano, a voice with a lot of weight in the dressing room, rowed against his signing. Manchester City took out the checkbook to piss off Aymeric Laporte at Athletic Club and the Bilbao entity responded by paying the 32 million of Iñigo Martínez’s clause at Real Sociedad. Six seasons later, the 32-year-old defender arrives in Barcelona. “I almost got there a few years ago, but that’s the way the world of football is. I’m looking forward to getting to know the players, the club and also the language, I’m sure I’ll be able to answer some questions in Catalan very soon.” In fact, Martínez already speaks Basque with her daughters.
Age has nothing to do with it.
2023-07-13 11:41:33
#Catalan
