Barcelona have not reached an agreement to sign veteran Spanish defender – report

Inigo Martinez was a hot topic in the Barcelona camp earlier this summer, with the Athletic Club star emerging as the ideal defensive target for coach Xavi Hernandez.

With loads of experience under his belt, Martinez was seen as the ideal man to replace Gerard Pique in the short-term and offer the leadership qualities in an otherwise young Barcelona defensive setup.

The move never materialised as the experienced centre-back ended up remaining at Athletic Club. But that has not deterred Barcelona from monitoring his situation, especially with the defender’s current contract expiring at the end of the season.

However, a recent report from Jose Manuel Monje (h/t Athletic Xtra) suggests Barcelona have yet to reach an agreement with Martinez regarding a potential move to Camp Nou.

This comes after recent reports speculating Barcelona’s attempt to sign the 31-year-old on a free transfer next summer. There are even reports of the two parties reaching personal terms. But Monje has squashed those claims, indicating that there is still much to be done if Barça are to sign the Athletic Club star.

At the same time, the Basque-based journalist adds that even Athletic Club have not made a move in their attempts to tie Inigo Martinez down to a new contract. The Basque outfit are yet to even contact the defender since August.

With Athletic Club not doing much to change the status quo, there remains a significant possibility that the veteran centre-back may join Barcelona on a free transfer in 2023.

Inigo’s potential move to Camp Nou could coincide with the departure of Gerard Pique, who has been ostracised from the first team lately. He could even be forced to leave the club at the end of the season, potentially paving the way for someone like Inigo to take charge.