Barcelona confirm Inigo Martinez contract decision
- Inigo Martinez signs new one-year Barcelona contract
- Veteran defender's extension initially blocked by financial rules
- Vitor Roque's departure opened door to finalise agreement
By Tom Gott
Barcelona have confirmed centre-back Inigo Martinez has signed a new contract with the club.
Martinez's previous contract was due to expire in the summer and there had been mounting fears that the veteran defender could be forced to leave after an agreement over an extension was blocked by La Liga's financial regulations.
Fortunately for Barcelona, they raised some unexpected funds through the €25m sale of Vitor Roque to Palmeiras, giving them enough flexibility to finalise Martinez's new deal.
The 33-year-old now remains under contract with Barcelona until the summer of 2026.
Martinez joined on a free transfer in 2023 and played a reserve role last season, starting just 16 times in all competitions. But Hansi Flick's arrival in Catalonia has rejuvenated the Spain international, who has been an integral part of the starting lineup this year.
32 of Martinez's 33 appearances across all competitions have come as a starter, making him one of Flick's most-used players this season.
With Martinez's new deal now wrapped up, the only expiring contract for Barcelona to address this summer is that of 34-year-old goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Szczesny came out of retirement to help cover for Marc-Andre ter Stegen's long-term injury absence but has caught the eye during his time in the starting lineup and is expected to be offered an extension in the coming weeks.
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