This is a summer transfer window full of uncertainty at Barcelona and one player is going through it for a second year in a row.
The case of Inigo Martinez helps shine a light on the rocky situation at the La Liga club right now — and it also brings perspective to their insistence they can afford to spend big on players such as Nico Williams or Dani Olmo.
Martinez, now 33, joined Barca on a free transfer last July after leaving Athletic Bilbao, agreeing a deal until 2025.
But he was only able to play for Barca last season after his registration with La Liga was finally approved very late in the transfer window. Barca were unable to register him earlier because they were spending too much on wages. They were in breach of La Liga’s salary limit, which is calculated by the competition body according to each club’s revenue.
Despite having signed his contract months before, on deadline day Barca asked him to take a pay cut to ensure he could be included in their squad. Martinez refused.
After several late departures were completed, including Ansu Fati’s loan to Brighton and Eric Garcia’s loan to Girona, Barca ended up with enough space to register Martinez.
But they only registered him for the 2023-24 season. Now, with another campaign just around the corner, once more Barca’s financial problems mean they cannot currently register all of the players they would like to.
Martinez made 25 appearances for Barca last season (Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Barca have a €100million ($107.9m; £84.5m at current rates) hole in their 2023-24 accounts, which means La Liga won’t let them sign anyone this summer as things stand — or even register current first-team players like Martinez or 18-year-old Brazilian striker Vitor Roque for their La Liga squad. Barca are open to selling players to fix this, but some are considered untouchable, such as Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Pedri and Pau Cubarsi.
All of this leaves Martinez in limbo again.
According to sources close to Martinez — who, like all those cited here, wanted to remain anonymous to protect relationships — he is happy at Barcelona and trusts the club will register him eventually, as they did last year. Club sources, meanwhile, said there was a “feeling of sympathy” for him and the “unfortunate” situation given the financial picture. They said his contribution to the team was highly valued and that he has always been considered a positive, respected member of the dressing room.
But adding further uncertainty to Martinez’s situation is the number of centre-backs on Barca’s books right now: Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, Cubarsi and Martinez all featured there last season. Clement Lenglet and Eric Garcia have returned from loan spells at Tottenham and Girona respectively, plus there is 20-year-old Senegal international Mika Faye, who was with the club’s reserve side last season. All of these players are registered for the coming season — unlike Martinez.
Barca are seeking a move for Lenglet to offload his wages, reportedly around €16million per season, and Faye, who has attracted interest from FC Porto. Araujo had previously been considered for sale, but his injury at the Copa America with Uruguay makes that unlikely. He, Cubarsi, Kounde and Christensen could be considered first-choice centre-backs, although new manager Hansi Flick may well use Kounde primarily at right-back, as his predecessor Xavi did.
Flick on the sidelines in Barca’s friendly against Manchester City (Rich Storry/Getty Images)
As for Garcia, Barca might prefer to keep him rather than Martinez. The 23-year-old former Manchester City defender made good use of his loan spell at Girona last season, is on a lower wage than the former Athletic man and can also play at right-back and in defensive midfield.
Barca may consider letting Martinez leave given they might not be able to register his salary. The centre-back could be one of the fall guys if they want to register potential new players, or even register those current players who aren’t at present. As it stands, young forward Roque is also unregistered for 2024-25.
Martinez’s situation contrasts with the optimism shown by some club figures when it comes to signings. President Joan Laporta said in July that Barca could afford a signing such as Williams, whose release clause is €58million (since then, the situation has developed and Williams is now expected to stay at Athletic this season, though Barca are still interested in €60m-rated Olmo).
According to dressing-room sources, it annoyed some Barca players that the club had asked them to show patience and make economic sacrifices despite talk in the media about making significant moves in the transfer market.
Flick is happy with Martinez and he may need him given the long season Barca are in for — but, for now, he is left facing the same uncertainty as this time last year.
(Top photo: DAX Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
