Iñigo Martínez's departure from FC Barcelona surprised many. It wasn't a move that was expected to happen immediately, but the club already had clear signs of what the player wanted.
Although the defender had one year left on his contract, the decision was made to let him leave without asking for any money in return. Why? Because the story goes back a long way, to an informal agreement between the parties that has now come to light.
More than a season ago, Iñigo received an offer from Saudi Arabia. At that time, he decided to stay, trusting the project and the promise that if another offer came, he could leave freely. So, this summer the agreement has been kept.
Flick's hand and the center back's consolidation
When Hansi Flick arrived, many thought Iñigo would remain a secondary player. However, the German coach saw something different in him. Iñigo took advantage of the opportunity, showed his experience and his ability to read the game, and soon became indispensable.
His way of pushing the defensive line forward and creating offside traps was essential. In addition, his understanding with Pau Cubarsí created a solid and reliable defensive duo.
During the 2024/25 season, Martínez played 46 matches and was key for Barça to win La Liga, Copa, and Supercopa. His role went from being a plan B to a key piece.
The importance of freeing up wage bill
Although Iñigo has been vital, his departure responds to an economic strategy. Al-Nassr from Saudi Arabia, the club that could now sign him, won't pay any transfer fee. However, by leaving, Barça will free up about €14 million ($14 million) in wage bill.
This move is key to registering new signings. Of those €14 million ($14 million), about €8.4 million ($8.4 million) can be used for new players, which gives the club more flexibility in a complicated market. So, although his departure hurts in sporting terms, it helps improve Barça's financial balance.
Deco and Laporta take responsibility
Finally, this departure has also served for figures like Deco and Joan Laporta to acknowledge a mistake in managing Iñigo's contract. It was an agreement that sought to keep stability, but ended up making it easier for such an important player to leave for free.
Now, the club will have to learn from this experience so as not to repeat it in the future. Iñigo Martínez's departure is a reminder that behind every move in soccer there are complex decisions, human agreements, and also, at times, mistakes that must be acknowledged.