Iñigo Martínez and FC Barcelona reach full agreement
The Basque centre-back has agreed to a four-season contract with the Catalan club and is now waiting for Athletic and Barça to agree on the transfer
Resigning to themselves that they will not succeed on Koundé's transfer, Barça are now focusing on signing Iñigo Martínez. The Basque centre-back has a different profile from Koundé, as a left-handed veteran at 31 years of age, and comes to a lot cheaper as well. As SPORT has learned, FC Barcelona and the player have a full agreement, which will see him sign on for four seasons. What is still missing though, is an agreement between the two clubs on the price of the transfer.
The player has been linked to Barcelona on several past occasions. He even came looking for a home in 2017, when Ernesto Valverde requested his signing to the Barça offices. After training at Real, Inigo signed for Athletic in 2018, which turned out to be very painful for the 'txuri urdin' fans.
Xavi wants to reinforce the backline with a physically powerful and, ideally, left-footed central defender, and the player from Ondarroa fits this profile perfectly. With negotiations to renew his contract with Athletic having broken down, Barça's initiative in their negotiations will be decisive for the player's future.
