Íñigo Martínez will leave Barça for free: Discover the reason!

While the departure of Íñigo Martínez during this summer market represents an unexpected move for the Balugrana fans, FC Barcelona already knew about the player's intentions some time ago.

Thus, the departure without cost of the 34-year-old defender, despite still having one year left on his contract, responds to an informal agreement between Barça and the Ondarroa defender, according to recent information. 

It is a 'gentleman's agreement' sealed last season, when the player received an attractive proposal from the Saudi Pro League. At that time, he chose to remain at the club, with the commitment that, if a similar offer arose again, he would be allowed to leave freely.

At that time, the player did not accept the offer because coach Hansi Flick had convinced him to continue in the project. And how right the coach was to stop his departure at that time.

Íñigo Martínez, irreplaceable in Fick's Barça

With the arrival of the German coach, it was believed that the player would continue to have a secondary role at Barça. However, the defender's tactical ability allowed him to sneak among the 'undisputed' players of the German.

In that sense, Íñigo Martínez could not be deprived of his starting position when he earned it, as he was one of the defenders who best understood how to move the defensive line forward so that the opponent would constantly fall offside.

In addition, his experience led him to become, together with Pau Cubarsí, one of the best pairs of defenders in the world. The '5' played 46 games (3,976) during the 2024/25 season, winning the domestic treble (League, Cup and Spanish Super Cup).

Al Nassr, Íñigo Martínez's next destination

In this context, the defender would be about to close his incorporation to Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia, in an operation that is expected to be completed in the next few hours, as the player could travel to the Asian nation this Friday.

The club where Joao Félix, formerly of Barça, plays, will not pay any transfer fee to the Barcelona team, but his departure will mean freeing up about 14 million euros in salary mass, a key move to advance in the registration of new signings, since about 8.4 'kilos' of the released figure can be used, that is, 60%.

Íñigo Martínez missed the last two matches of the Asian tour due to muscle fatigue. With a firm offer from Saudi football on the table, the center-back preferred not to take physical risks before finalizing his departure. 

Faced with this situation, Flick decided to experiment in the left side of the defense with Gerard Martín as central defender, in a tactical test that could have continuity during the 2025/26 season.