As per a report from Catalan source RAC1, there is speculation that Inigo Martinez may not continue as a player for Barcelona during the 2024/25 season. The club may encounter difficulties in registering him for La Liga in the upcoming campaign, potentially leading to his departure from the team during the summer transfer window.
Inigo Martinez at Barcelona: The story so far
In the previous summer, Inigo Martinez made a transition to Barcelona through a Bosman move subsequent to an extended period of his professional career primarily within the confines of the Basque Country. The 32-year-old athlete had been associated with Real Sociedad and Athletic Club throughout the preceding decade prior to his transfer to Barcelona. Nevertheless, his initiation season at the Catalan club has been marked by challenges.
Significant fitness concerns have impeded his involvement for a considerable portion of the 2023/24 season. Consequently, Martinez has only accumulated 973 minutes of gameplay spread across 16 appearances in various competitions thus far in the term. Nonetheless, he has been a consistent presence since his recovery from the ordeal of injury.
Martinez’s status as a left-footed central defender has bolstered his position within the team, as it aligns with the preferences of Xavi Hernandez, particularly for the left-hand side of the defensive line. However, the Spaniard’s future at FC Barcelona remains uncertain as the summer transfer window approaches. There is a possibility that the club may opt to capitalize on his potential departure preceding the commencement of the 2024/25 season.
Set for a departure?
Barcelona’s projected salary expenditure for the current season stands at approximately €492 million. However, the reigning La Liga champions have exceeded this budgetary allocation, reportedly earmarking €204 million for wages. Furthermore, there exists a deviation of €37 million from Barcelona’s initial financial plan, thereby triggering implications for Financial Fair Play regulations.
Should Barcelona fail to advance to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, this aforementioned deviation is projected to escalate to €52 million. Consequently, the club may encounter difficulties in registering Inigo Martinez for participation, leading to potential surplus of other players. Consequently, the futures of Clement Lenglet and Eric Garcia at the Catalan club remain uncertain.
Recent reports suggest that Barcelona intends to offload Garcia during the forthcoming summer transfer window. Likewise, it is speculated that Clement Lenglet may depart Barcelona permanently, with Aston Villa purportedly expressing interest. The status of Inigo Martinez’s tenure at the club beyond the transfer window also remains a subject of interest.