Six months after packing his bags for Al Nassr, Inigo Martinez has unexpectedly returned to Barcelona’s attention during the January transfer window. The 34-year-old centre defender is resolved to don the blaugrana shirt once more during the pivotal period of the season since he feels his time in Saudi Arabia is over.
Recovering a left-footed captain who is already familiar with the club, the dressing room, and Hansi Flick’s expectations now seems like much more than nostalgia for a Barcelona team that is balancing pressure from La Liga and the Champions League while suffering defensive inconsistencies.
Fichajes claims that Inigo Martinez has made it quite clear that he wants a winter loan return to Barcelona and is even open to extending his contract with Al Nassr in order to reach an agreement that works for everyone. He has made frequent appearances in Saudi Arabia and even scored a goal, but Camp Nou’s emotional appeal and competitive advantage continue to be strong draws.
Martinez keen on sensational Barcelona return
However, Joan Fontes claims that the possibility could be available for a temporary solution during the January transfer window. According to his knowledge, Inigo Martinez is eager to go back to Barcelona. It is “not impossible” that Martinez returns to Camp Nou during the winter transfer window, Albert Lesan said on 8TV’s Rondeando shortly after.
In the summer, the former Athletic Club defender left Barcelona on free and signed a lucrative contract with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi powerhouses signed Martinez to replace Aymeric Laporte, but it’s unclear if they would be willing to let him go. Since then, Sport has responded to the report by disputing the idea. After a fruitful two years under Martinez, they claim that Barcelona is determined to focus on the future.
The wage cap issue at Barcelona is another question. Their attempts to recruit summer additions Marcus Rashford, Joan Garcia, and Roony Bardghji were said to have been much aided by Martinez’s departure. Even without paying a transfer fee, the Catalan giants are still above their salary cap, and it’s unclear if they would have the room to bring him back.
