Barcelona veteran will have a great chance to make an impression vs Athletic Club

Barcelona’s acquisition of Inigo Martinez has not borne any fruit so far and although the transfer was pretty much planned, it hasn’t turned out as well as they would have wanted.

So far, the 32-year-old has clocked a mere 93 minutes across three games and this happens to be the fewest minutes for any Barça player this season.

Now, with a game against his former team, Athletic Club, looming, time and situation has given him a second chance, reports MARCA.

“Inigo will be important. He is a signing that I approved, and I think he can give us a lot. He’s doing well, we’ve seen that this week,” said the manager ahead of this clash.

Martinez affected by injuries

The beginning of Martinez’s Barcelona career started off with an injury, which kept him out of the pre-season, and thus the competitive rhythm was already lost. 

This resulted in his absence during the initial La Liga matches, making him unavailable for clashes against Getafe, Cadiz, and Villarreal.

Furthermore, the 32-year-old continues to grapple with the formidable challenge of finding his place and adapting within Xavi’s squad, particularly within the fiercely competitive central defensive position where Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, and Andreas Christensen have already cemented their places.

Even though Xavi is very much in favour of rotation, their form is just making it tough for the manager to let anyone sit on the bench.

Time is right for Martinez

Right now, Martinez may find himself in a more prominent role due to the current circumstances in the Barcelona locker room. 

Kounde is unavailable due to injury, having suffered a knee sprain, and Araujo and Christensen could do with some rest as they come off recent extensive playing time with their national teams.

Xavi has confirmed that both players are in excellent condition to start against Athletic Club, but he might opt to give one of them a well-deserved rest or limit their involvement in the match. 

Notably, Araujo has even undertaken a transoceanic journey, which could factor into the decision-making process.

All this gives Martinez a perfect chance to finally assert his claim and fight for a role in the playing XI, especially at a time when fixtures will come in thick and fast.