Barcelona have announced the signing of Athletic Bilbao defender Inigo Martinez on a two-year deal following the expiration of his contract with the Basque club.
The 32-year-old spent five years in Bilbao after coming through the youth ranks at fellow Basque outfit Real Sociedad.
He becomes the club’s second free agent signing of this window after the arrival of Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan last month.
Barcelona announced the Spanish international’s addition with a social media reveal that focused on the shadow of a figure re-enacting Martinez’s goal celebration.
Fortunately for fans unable to decipher the cryptic message, the centre-back was seen sporting his new club’s colours swiftly after and greeted fans in his first statement as a Barcelona player.
Martinez has long been admired by the club since catching the eye with Sociedad before going on to claim his maiden senior trophy in 2021’s Spanish Super Cup.
He has been a semi-regular in the Spain squad since making his debut for La Roja under Vincente del Bosque in 2013, but his 20 caps are yet to yield honours for the national team as Martinez was forced to sit out their recent UEFA Nation’s League triumph with a calf strain.
As a left footed centre-back able to play at full-back, Martinez is a shrewd capture for Xavi’s side, who stormed to the La Liga title last season, in part, due to their league best defensive record.
The Catalan outfit conceded just 20 goals all season, kept 25 clean sheets and saw their defensive unit including Alejandro Balde, Jules Kounde and stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, recognised in the La Liga Team of the Season.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
