Author: Barkha Roy
Barcelona have strengthened their defensive options with the acquisition of Inigo Martinez, as the Spanish champions announced the signing of the defender from Athletic Bilbao on a two-year deal. Martinez, 32, joins the club as a free agent following the expiry of his contract with the Basque club, becoming Barcelona’s second signing on a free transfer this transfer window, following the arrival of Ilkay Gundogan from Manchester City last month.
The experienced defender, who spent five years at Athletic Bilbao after rising through the ranks at Real Sociedad, has long been admired by Barcelona. Martínez first came to the club’s attention with his performances for Sociedad and later won his first senior trophy in the 2021 Spanish Super Cup. Known for his versatility as a left-footed central defender who can also play on the wing, Martínez’s arrival adds valuable depth to Xavi’s team.
Barcelona’s defensive solidity was a crucial factor in their successful La Liga campaign last season, during which they conceded just 20 goals and kept an impressive 25 games without conceding. The defensive unit, made up of players like Alejandro Balde, Jules Kounde and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, was duly recognized in La Liga’s Team of the Season. However, Xavi identified the need for a left-footed defender to further increase his options, and the signing of Martinez meets that requirement.
Barcelona’s pursuit of Martínez began last summer, but the club failed to reach an agreement with Athletic Bilbao. Despite the risk of losing him as a free agent, Athletic have kept hold of their valuable defender. Negotiations between Barcelona and Martínez accelerated at the start of this year, especially after Gerard Piqué’s retirement. In March, ESPN reported that the Catalan giants had reached a verbal agreement with Martínez, who ended up joining the club after his contract expired.
With the arrival of Martinez, Barcelona now have a formidable defensive line with players like Ronald Araújo, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde and Eric García. The experienced Spaniard brings valuable experience to a relatively young team. Having made over 200 appearances for Real Sociedad before joining Athletic Bilbao in 2018, Martinez amassed 177 appearances for the Basque club, contributing to their victory over Barcelona in the 2021 Spanish Super Cup.
Barcelona’s successful signing of Martínez further strengthens the team, which is aiming to defend its La Liga title. With his skills as a left-sided defender and his familiarity with Spanish soccer, Martinez is expected to compete for a starting position and provide healthy competition between the defenders.