They link Íñigo Martínez with Barca again

• Onda Vasca assured that Barcelona is preparing an imminent important and concrete offer for Athletic’s international central defender
• Cucurella can facilitate Marcos Alonso’s operation for Barca

They relate Iñigo Martínez with FC Barcelona again . Onda Vasca reported that the Barca club will make “an important offer” to Athletic Bilbao in the next few hours for the 31-year-old international center-back, whose contract ends in June 2023. According to this information, the defender has no intention of meeting with the rojiblanca board of directors to discuss his renewal, a transcendent key that would put the player in a clear position of strength regarding his future. 

   The information from José Manuel Monje pointed out that Barça’s offer to Athletic will be “concrete and important”. Martínez has signed a  contract termination clause estimated at 80 million euros. The player continues to work normally under the guidance of Ernesto Valverde, the coach who, when he trained Barca, was precisely close to signing Martínez, when the defender was still playing for Real Sociedad. Finally, in 2018, Athletic paid 32 million euros of Martínez’s release clause with the San Sebastian club. According to Basque Wave, Martínez is right now “expectant” and, in no case, is it in his plans to meet with the Athletic board of directors to discuss his renewal, the intention they would have in San Mamés.

   FC Barcelona now has six central defenders, although one of them, Samuel Umtiti, does not count at all for coach Xavi Hernandez and a way out is being sought for him. After signing Andreas Christensen, from Chelsea, and Jules Kounde, from Sevilla, Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, and Gerard Pique remain in the culé squad. 

Meanwhile, all the efforts that Barca has made in recent times have been to bring Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso at a reasonable price, both one year after their contract with Chelsea ends and with an age very similar to that of Íñigo Martínez, although with a tactical versatility that allows them to act in each of the defense bands.