The Ondarroa center-back makes his departure from Athletic official and both parties are in conflict with the subsequent explanations
What seemed like an open secret ended up being confirmed this Tuesday. Iñigo Martínez will not continue at Athletic next season after not renewing his contract. The conflict is born at the time of goodbyes. According to Athletic, the defender is leaving after rejecting the club’s renewal offer. For his part, Iñigo denies that such an offer existed.
From EGD we have insisted for months in which Athletic was not going to make a renewal offer to Iñigo Martínez. And after the player’s anger and the subsequent statement denying the majority, it seems that it is the version that gains the most strength. Jon Uriarte had a plan and it seems that he has followed it to the letter.
Athletic’s reasons for not renewing Iñigo Martínez
Iñigo Martínez was a veteran player, with a very high salary and prone to injuries. After not qualifying for Europe, the money in the box will continue to be very little and large expenditures cannot be made. The strategic renewals were those of Sancet, who has already extended his contract, and that of Nico Williams.
With Iñigo Martínez’s salary, Athletic was not going to be able to afford to negotiate with the little Williams. There is no hard and it’s time to prioritize. For the good of Athletic, it seems that Nico and Sancet are going to be very important, they already are. And as for Iñigo Martínez… the defense is very well covered. Yeray and Vivian are at an imperial level and Paredes has also taken a step forward.
Iñigo Martínez goes to Barcelona
Iñigo Martínez wanted one last challenge in his sports career. It had been said for a long time and the decision had been made for a long time. FC Barcelona had already been interested in his services when he played for Real Sociedad and on this occasion they have also thought of Ondarrea’s to strengthen the rear.
Iñigo will not have it easy, since Xavi Hernández’s FC Barcelona has one of the best defensive lines in Europe. The presence of Christensen, Koundé and Araújo make it very difficult for the former Athletic player to succeed at Can Barça. But in football nothing is written.
