Barca adds 14 million euros, loses a leader

Inigo Martinez left Barcelona to join Al-Nassr, ending a short but memorable journey.

An emotional morning at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper ended Inigo Martinez's short but memorable journey at Barcelona. In the training ground canteen, applause, hugs and wishes from teammates mixed with a thank you speech from President Joan Laporta created an atmosphere that was both warm and regretful. In the afternoon, the 34-year-old midfielder flew to Saudi Arabia to join Al-Nassr, embarking on a new chapter with an unmissable salary.

This departure is not surprising if you look back at the contract extension until 2026 signed in March. At that time, Inigo and Deco included a clause allowing him to leave for free if he received an offer this summer and accepted it. Barcelona, in return, freed up 14 million euros in salary funds in a context where they still have to weigh every number to comply with financial fair play regulations.

Inigo has never worn the captain's armband, but in Hansi Flick's eyes, he is the "captain without an armband". His ability to command the defense, especially when paired with Pau Cubarsi, helped Barcelona have one of the most solid central defender pairings last season. 3,976 minutes of playing time, 46 matches, and a domestic treble - La Liga, Copa del Rey, Super Cup - are proof of his worth. The fact that Cubarsi inherited the number 5 shirt clearly shows the role that Barca expects of him.

For Deco, Inigo is not on the list of players to leave. The central defender he is willing to let go is Andreas Christensen, who has only one year left on his contract and has been injured. Ronald Araujo is also considered if he is not guaranteed the number one spot. But football is a mix of tactics, finances and personal desire - and this time, the finances and the player's desire won out.

With Deco, Inigo is not on the list of people to leave.

Barca have now generated around €35m in wages from four deals: Inigo (€14m), Ansu Fati (€8m), Pau Victor (€9m) and Pablo Torre (€4m). However, this figure still does not bring the club back to the 1-1 rule of La Liga. Therefore, they have to find additional sources of income, including a controversial deal with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (€40m/4 years) to print the logo “RD Congo - Heart of Africa” on training shirts, and waiting for a valuation of €100m for 475 VIP seats on loan for 25 years.

Barca’s defence now includes Cubarsi, Araújo, Christensen, Eric Garcia, Jules Kounde (who has moved to right-back) and Gerard Martin, a youngster whom Flick has been testing at left-back during the summer. While the squad is still adequate, the loss of an experienced defensive leader could have an impact on the stability of the backline, especially in the early stages of the season.

Inigo Martínez left to seek new experiences alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, but for Barcelona, this is a loss not only in terms of skills but also in terms of spirit. As the emotions of parting have subsided, the financial figures remind us that the club is living in a time when every decision – no matter how emotional – is still governed by the balance sheet.

Source: https://znews.vn/barca-them-14-trieu-euro-mat-mot-thu-linh-post1575422.html