Instead of Hancko or Chabot
© Imago
After the transfer of Dávid Hancko (27, now Atlético) can be canceled at short notice and Jeff Chabot (27) confessed to VfB Stuttgart in the training camp (“This is a horny club, I’m looking forward to the season”), al-Nassr is about to commit a defense routine. According to the matching media reports, the 34-year-old Iñigo Martínez will switch from FC Barcelona to Riad free of charge. The Catalans get air in the salary budget, which is necessary for the registration of the new additions.
The 21-fold Spanish international should sign for a year with an option to extend it at al-Nassr by 2027. There, Martínez could take the place of his compatriot Aymeric Laporte (31), which coach Jorge Jesus had recently referred to as a candidate on a departure. He should already agree with the Athletic Club by returning, but nothing has yet been clarified between the clubs. In Bilbao, Martínez had also played before moving to Barcelona in 2023.
At the blue grana, the left foot had only extended in March to 2026. At that time, however, it was reportedly made an agreement that enables a transfer -free change if a foreign association should inquire that is interesting for Martínez. At Al-Nassr, he waves a much higher salary than in Barcelona.
That is why Iñigo Martínez ‘transfer -free change helps FC Barcelona
The Spanish national triplet winner has four trained central defenders in the hindquarters with Pau Cubarsí (18), the new captain Ronald Araujo (26), Eric García (24) and Andreas Christensen (29), although the Dane and Uruguayer, especially the Uruguayer, were finally struggling with injuries. Martínez was therefore a regular in 2024/25. Right -back Jules Koundé (26) can also play there.
According to the club -related newspaper “Mundo Deportivo”, up to 14 million euros are released in Barcelona’s salary budget, of which 60 percent may be reused to register new players (here for explanation). The newcomers Joan García (24), Marcus Rashford (27) and Roony Bardghji (19) as well as the extension with Wojciech Szczesny (35) could not yet be registered due to the Laliga expenditure limits. You are currently not eligible to play.