BarcelonaThe 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. The addition for the next two seasons was made official this Wednesday.
The commitment that Mateu Alemany made last summer with Carmelo Sánchez, uncle and representative of the Biscay central, has remained alive to the point of becoming a reality. After Ilkay Gündogan, he is the second addition for Barça 2023-24. Both without paying transfer. Martínez signs for two seasons and, between salary and signing bonus, will compensate for the loss of purchasing power caused by the change in taxation that he will suffer as a result of going from being paid by a club domiciled in Biscay to doing so in a Catalan one. In Bilbao, Martínez has received a net salary of around five million euros since 2017. In Barcelona, he will not reach these figures after taxes. The contract is signed until June 2025 and the termination clause is set at 400 million euros.
Before initialing the agreement, which is pending the fair play financial in order to be registered in the next League, Barça’s sports department asked the medical services, commanded a year ago by Xavier Corbella, for reports on Iñigo’s history of injuries. The footballer collaborated by sending some tests to confirm that he is recovered, for example, from the plantar fasciitis he had contracted during the second leg of the last season. The Blaugrana entity was also interested in knowing the evolution of the fracture to the internal meniscus that he suffered eleven years ago at Real Sociedad, a setback that forced him to be away from the field of play for five months after going through the operating room.
Various medical examinations due to Iñigo Martínez’s history
When Mateu Alemany sealed the pre-agreement with Martínez, the doctors already gave the green light to the signing after verifying that the injury has not experienced relapses despite the meniscus being partially removed. In fact, most of the medical leaves he has had in recent years have been for muscular reasons. Last season, however, he played with protection on his left knee to prevent the discomfort in the patellar tendon that he had in the summer of 2022. Already in Barcelona, Iñigo has undergone further medical tests which, again, have received the thanks to the Blaugrana medical services.
In a market conditioned by Barça’s economic difficulties, the arrival of the Basque center back is an operation that bears the stamp of Mateu Alemany. Deco, active technical secretary and who will be officially appointed in the position in mid-July, had nothing to do with this operation. In fact, the ex-Blaugrana footballer was more in favor of betting on a right-back, a position that needs to be strengthened at Barça. The sports management follows Iván Fresneda, 18 years old and player of Valladolid, but it is an operation that will only be carried out if the club manages to get rid of players.
Before that, the priority is to incorporate a pivot, with Oriol Romeu being the low-cost option that fits best, despite the fact that Girona demands the payment of his clause (around six million euros). Barça is studying to include players in the operation: Nico González is an option that they would like to see in Montilivi.
A central left, a lack in Barça
The arrival of Iñigo Martínez allows Xavi to incorporate a left central, a profile that fits the coaching staff because, with a full-back constantly projecting in attack like Balde, they see Biscay closing in a three-man defense when the team has the possession Martínez, moreover, has a good ball release – in La Liga this season he has, on average, passed 90% of passes – and is skilled in movement, virtues that Christensen exhibits at Barça but where Araujo suffers the most . Sant Joan Despí also explained to ARA that the signing of the Biscay defender “will favor changes in formation”, being able to play “with three centre-backs with Iñigo on the left profile”.
In addition, with the departure of Jordi Alba, Marcos Alonso will alternate on the side with Balde and will not play as much as a central player. Faced with the difficulties in signing a right-back, Kounde will also have to step on the right wing, a fact that helps to understand the extensive roster of Blaugrana central players. Iñigo Martínez also stands out for his powerful aerial play, both in defense and in attack, a facet that Barça has ended up relegating to Eric Garcia, who has been tried as a pivot because Xavi does not see him as a central player. In large part because the central Martorell is not a winner of aerial duels.
2023-07-05 08:18:30
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