Barcelona are looking to sign Inigo Martinez from Athletic Bilbao this summer. They want to add depth to their backline.
Barcelona have been on a spending spree this summer. They have made some major additions in Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, and Raphina. They want to add Martinez to the list as well.
The seasoned La Liga centre-back has received a lot of interest from the five-time Champions League winners this window. Particularly as it appeared as Jules Kounde may slip through their fingers, the Blaugrana appeared to be pursuing Inigo Martinez as a cheaper option.
Although the Frenchman from Sevilla has arrived, Barcelona’s interest in Martinez does not appear to have diminished. In fact, it appears that the team made a proposal for the Athletic Club star. It was specifically at the behest of manager Xavi Hernandez and director Mateu Alemany. He can be a good rotation option for them, especially after the departure of Clement Lenglet to Tottenham.
Barca’s Pursuit Of Martinez
According to the article, Barcelona filed an offer for €20 million, including €15 million + €5 million in variables. Since Martinez is in the last year of his contract with Bilbao, the Catalans think that it is a fair offer.
However, it looks like Bilbao are not on the same page. They believe that Martinez is of a higher value than what is proposed by Barcelona.
Currently, it appears that the 31-year-old will remain at Bilbao for this season. Martinez has no intention of signing a contract extension, however. It looks likely that he will leave on a free transfer when it expires next summer.
For their part, Barcelona intends to sign the left-footed centre-back when he becomes a free agent in 2023. This is assuming that he has a successful season with the Basque team.
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