Yahoo Sports Barcelona defender on track to securing a one-year contract renewal at club
After a difficult debut season, riddled with niggling fitness problems, Inigo Martinez has emerged as the leader of the FC Barcelona defence in the ongoing season.
The veteran Spaniard has churned out several solid displays this season, the latest of which came in Belgrade last night against Crvena Zvezda, where he was awarded the MVP of the match.
At 33 years of age, Martinez is exhibiting an impressive level and is an indispensable player for Hansi Flick.
On track to earn a new deal
As such, the former Athletic Club centre-back is on his way to earning the automatic renewal of his contract for one more season at Barcelona, according to SPORT.
Martinez signed for two seasons with the Blaugrana in 2023, with an option for a third year in case he plays 60 per cent of the matches with a minimum of 45 minutes during the 2024/25 campaign.
This clause is currently very achievable and everything indicates that Barcelona will ensure the continuity of a footballer who is part of their backbone.
Martinez has only rested in one of the 16 official matches Barcelona have played this term, against Osasuna in El Sadar, where the team suffered the only defeat of the season.
In the remaining 15 matches, he has been a starter (11 in La Liga and four in the Champions League), even scoring and assisting two goals apiece.
Barcelona can play up to 61 matches this season in the best-case scenario, that is, reaching the finals of the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League.
In this case, Martinez would have to play 37 matches for the clause to be executed. Therefore, with him already featuring in 15 games, he has 22 matches left to play to trigger the contract extension when we are only in the first quarter of the season.
Under Flick, Martinez is an undisputed starter and has formed a perfect tandem with Pau Cubarsi, accompanied on the flanks by Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde.
Flick is delighted to have a footballer of his stature and quality and a one-year renewal appears well on track for him.
