Iñigo Martínez's departure has caught everyone by surprise and has caused quite a stir at Barça. Last year, he was an undisputed starter under Flick, and this season he was expected to keep that essential role. Alongside Pau Cubarsí, they formed one of the most reliable defensive pairs in international soccer.
Iñigo Martínez surprises with his departure and leaves a void in Barça's defense
Iñigo has decided to change course and is moving to Saudi Arabia to play for Al-Nassr. His transfer was completed at zero cost, even though he still had one more year left on his contract. At his new destination, he will earn between €15 million and €20 million per season, a salary much higher than what he had here.
The contract details reveal that when he renewed with Barça, a special clause was included. This clause allowed Iñigo to leave for free if a specific offer from Saudi Arabia arrived, and that's what happened. That's why the club had to accept this deal without receiving direct financial compensation.
Barça allows Iñigo Martínez's free departure after including a special clause in his contract
With Iñigo's departure, all defensive responsibility now falls on Pau Cubarsí. The young center-back will have to take on a much more significant role in the coming seasons. This has prompted Pau to make important decisions, such as changing his jersey number, as a sign of his new phase.
Pau Cubarsí will take the number 5 and lead Barça's defense after Iñigo Martínez's departure
This change symbolizes the passing of the torch in Barça's defense and marks the beginning of a phase with major challenges for Pau. His growth as a player will be key to keeping the defensive level the club demands. Now, all eyes will be on how he responds to this great responsibility.
It remains to be seen how Pau Cubarsí will adapt to this new phase and what results he can deliver under the pressure of being the pillar of the team. Barça is strongly committed to its youth academy and expects this young footballer to meet expectations. The season looks exciting for him and for all Barça fans.