Iñigo Martínez Completes Free Transfer to Al Nassr

Iñigo Martínez has left Barcelona and joined Al Nassr for free. He used a contract clause that allowed him to leave immediately. The defender will now play in the Saudi Pro League. This move will save Barcelona his salary for the upcoming season.

MARTÍNEZ TRIGGERS EXIT TO JOIN AL NASSR

Iñigo Martínez has ended his Barcelona contract early and will join Al Nassr this week. He signed a deal until June 2026. Even though his Barcelona contract was until June 2026, a clause let him leave for free. Barcelona, trying to lower player salaries to register new signings, supported his decision. Martínez played an important role last season, starting with Pau Cubarsí in central defense and helping Barcelona win the domestic treble, including LaLiga and Copa del Rey, under Hansi Flick last season. His departure means no transfer income for Barcelona, but they can now use part of his salary to register new signings for the coming campaign.

BARCELONA’S DEFENSIVE CHALLENGES

Martínez played 46 games for Barcelona last season, proving to be a key player for Hansi Flick’s team after an injury-troubled first year in Spain. His leadership in defense helped the team gain stability and win the domestic double. Despite these successes, squad changes were expected as Barcelona hasn’t registered several recent signings due to financial rules. The club is still working on registering Joan García, Wojciech Szczęsny, Marcus Rashford, Gerard Martín, Marc Bernal, Roony Bardghji, Hector Fort, and Oriol Romeu, who may have important roles this season. With Martínez gone, Flick needs Ronald Araújo, Eric García, and returning Andreas Christensen to fill central defense positions.

BIGGER IMPACT FOR BOTH TEAMS AHEAD OF NEW SEASON

Al Nassr has gained a defender with a lot of experience in Spain’s top league as they try to build their lineup around stars like Cristiano Ronaldo. Last season, Al Nassr finished third in the Saudi Pro League, thirteen points behind winners Al Ittihad and five behind 2nd place Al Hilal as they aim to reclaim their top domestic status. Their new league campaign starts next week against Al Wehda, who finished eighth last season. For Barcelona, the LaLiga season starts in nine days, and they are defending their title, standing as favorites but facing competition from Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, their closest rivals last season. Replacing Martínez will be crucial in the first match against Mallorca, who finished mid-table last year. Barcelona aims to strengthen their squad with salary savings from Martínez’s departure.