Barcelona reportedly reached an agreement with Inigo Martinez for the Basque defender to leave the club. The experienced defender already has a contract with Saudi-Arab giants Al-Nassr.
The news broke on Thursday evening that Barcelona was in conversation with Al-Nassr during a deal for the 34-year-old to leave the club. Now Fabrizio Romano claims that the deal is closed and Martinez will in fact end his contract with the Catalan giants. The deal will take place without compensation, as confirmed by MD, despite the first reports of a reimbursement of € 8 million.
With Aymeric Laporte who negotiates an exit for Athletic Club, Al-Nassr has used to another Spanish international to replace him in Martinez. The Basque defender was made an offer that he thought too good to reject and will sign a one -year -old deal with an option for another year. The Catalan says that Barcelona had preferred another defender to leave, but it will free up € 8.4 million in their salary limit and help them to register the will of Joan Garcia or Marcus Rashford.
Romano also says that Martinez had an exit clause in his deal with which he could leave freely. Only in the spring did Barcelona agree a new contract for Martinez, with an option to extend it for a second season. While Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde can play in the middle of the rear four, both are planned for the right back-slot this season.
It means that Hansi Flick will choose from one by Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, or perhaps even Gerard Martin, who was tested in the position in the preseason, as a partner for Pau Cubarsi. Barcelona is not going to make a signature to replace Martinez when things stand.