Barcelona defensive target passes medical test ahead of summer move

The future of Inigo Martinez has been the hot topic in Spanish football this week. With the defender’s contract at Athletic Club expiring at the end of the season, many expect him to leave the club on a free transfer in the coming summer.

Barcelona have emerged as the likely destination for Inigo Martinez, with a report from Diario SPORT suggesting that the player’s wife is already looking for apartments in Barcelona and nearby areas.

The report further claims that Martinez had even passed a medical test in Barcelona a few weeks ago and it appears the defender is on the verge of joining the Catalan outfit.

This comes just a day after speculations that suggested that Inigo Martinez is close to reaching a full agreement with Barcelona over a Bosman move in the summer.

However, the report from Diario SPORT points out that the job is not done yet, as far as Barcelona are concerned. This is because the Catalans are facing stiff competition from Atletico Madrid in the pursuit of the ageing defender.

The Spanish giants are also in the market for defensive reinforcements this coming summer, as Diego Simeone looks to revamp his options at the back, especially after the exit of Felipe, among others.

Although various reports claim that the player has his heart set on a move to Camp Nou, Atleti have not backed down from the chase. They are waiting in the wings and are ready to pounce on any opportunity to come their way.

This is particularly interesting given the fact that Barça are facing economic hardship and will have to make adjustments to their salary budget before they can accommodate Martinez. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how things transpire in the coming weeks.