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FC Barcelona won its twenty-seventh league and is now only focused on the next season. The goal is clear: to improve the club's international image in recent years. The Champions League eliminations were painful for the blaugranas. Xavi Hernández is aware that he needs to improve his squad to compete at the highest level. For that reason, he met with the board to close an important signing. Íñigo Martínez will be the new 'culé' defender. Barça already has all the necessary documents and the defender successfully completed the medical exams.
According to Fabrizio Romano, a journalist specializing in transfers, the center-back has already agreed to join the Barcelona team as a free agent next season. However, it is expected that the official contract will be signed at the end of the current campaign. The information is that he will join Barça on a two-year contract until June 2025.
This signing is a special request from Xavi Hernández, who knows that defensive problems were crucial in the most important matches of the current season. Íñigo is a left-footed center-back who provides a good ball distribution from the defense. He has proven this with Athletic Club.
Martínez's arrival is seen as a strategic operation for Barcelona, as the player has experience in LaLiga and has proven to be solid and reliable in his career. His ability to start the build-up play from the back fits perfectly with the style implemented by the 'blaugrana' coach.
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Athletic fact without Martínez that excites Barça
This season, the defender has had some physical problems, which is very unusual in his career; however, this situation has reflected how important his presence is in Athletic's starting eleven. Without one of their best players, the 'Leones' have lost several matches. For example, they have failed to win their last four LaLiga games without him.
The defender has missed the last matches against Villarreal (1-5), Real Betis (0-1), Mallorca (1-1), and Sevilla (0-1). A triceps overload in his right leg has kept him away from the field since the end of last month. Without his great defensive level, Athletic has conceded all kinds of goals and has complicated their final stretch of the season. They need to accumulate points to secure an international tournament.
Blaugrana fans are eager to see Íñigo Martínez in the club and hope that he will be of great help in achieving the objectives of the next season. Many are already welcoming him to the team. Likewise, in the coming days or weeks, we will see how the new 'culé' squad continues to be shaped.
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