Barcelona are reportedly interested in Real Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez and are likely to pursue a deal for the same
According to a report by Noticias de Gipuzkoa, Inigo Martinez has caught Barcelona’s attention and the Catalan club are keen on luring the player to Camp Nou this summer. Clubs like Manchester City and Real Madrid were also interested in a deal but the report further states that Barcelona are willing to pay his €32 million release clause.
Whenever a new transfer window rolls up, Inigo Martinez gets linked with a host of big clubs. The player is a product of the Real Sociedad youth setup from. He has evolved into one of the most highly-rated defenders in La Liga. The 26-year-old’s prolific displays helped him break through into the senior Spanish team.
Martinez has raked in 223 senior appearances for Real Sociedad and is an indispensable member of the squad. The club itself are gradually improving their performances on the whole, and Martinez has been an instrumental figure in their fortunes.
Hence, it comes as no surprise that Barcelona are so interested in signing Martinez since he is a very talented player who is likely to be at his peak.
Ernesto Valverde has enough reasons to worry about the club’s shoddy defence. Samuel Umiti fared decently for his first season with Barcelona, but the problem lies in lack of options. The newly-appointed manager will only have Gerard Pique, Samuel Umiti and Marlon Santos to choose from, which can pose troubles in the future.
Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano is expected to stay with Barcelona beyond the transfer window whereas Jeremy Mathieu has departed already. Another thing that needs to be noted is that Santos can act as a strong back-up since he lacks experience to be a regular.
In a situation like this, a cultured defender like Inigo can be an ideal new signing for Barcelona – a club that has lacked defensive strength and consistency is the last few campaigns.
Additionally, playing for a big club like Barcelona can benefit Inigo as well. It will surely catapult him to greater success and recognition which can potentially help Inigo secure a starting spot for Spain in the upcoming World Cup.
