Decision taken: Barcelona make call on defender’s future following months of uncertainty

Barcelona have decided to hold onto Inigo Martinez for the final year of his contract, as per the latest in Catalonia. The Basque defender signed a two-year deal on a free from Athletic Club last summer.

Martinez had been linked with the exit door since February, as he was not registered for the second year of his deal, and was not seen as a priority for the next campaign. He could have become a casualty of their cost-cutting measures, but Sport say that Hansi Flick and Sporting Director Deco have agreed he should be registered and remain at the club.

Iñigo Martínez does not want to return to Athletic Club. @laiatudel

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) June 27, 2024

They note that Martinez is likely to be the only left-footed central defender in the squad next season, and that he will be not be used in any other deals as a makeweight, while they have also shut the door on interest from Saudi Arabia.

The former implies that both Clement Lenglet and Mikayil Faye are expected to leave, with the latter linked with a move to Porto. It had also been reported that Barcelona were including him in their offers for Nico Williams to Athletic Club. That too would suggest that their second offer has turned down, and the Basque side will only accept money for the Spain winger. The focus will now shift onto the likes of Andreas Christensen, Eric Garcia and Ronald Araujo, who are more likely to leave as a result.

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