Barcelona are silently and gradually moulding their team for the 2023/2024 season as they prepare for their third arrival this summer, with Inigo Martinez set to swap Athletic Club for the Blaugrana.
The 32-year-old’s contract at the Basque club expires on Friday, and there is a pre-contract agreement with the La Liga champions before the end of last season with medicals also sorted.
However, Barcelona are expected to confirm the deal officially next week as they are yet to do so. A confirmation will make him Xavi’s third recruitment this summer after signing Mikayil Faye and Ilkay Gundogan. Martinez is expected to start training alongside his new Barcelona teammates next week in preparation for pre-season.
Martinez will add depth to Barcelona’s defensive department, which has Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, and Andreas Christensen.
Mikayil Faye is an 18-year-old defender from Senegal who was signed from Kusotsija in Croatia’s second division. Ilkay Gundogan is a more popular acquisition after winning the treble for Manchester City last season.
The German midfielder ran out of contract at Etihad Stadium and signed a three-year deal at the Blaugrana side. Barcelona are still expected to sign more players regardless, with Athletico Paranaense’s Vitor Roque agreeing on terms with Barcelona while the club is in talks with Oriol Romeu and Ivan Fresneda, albeit at the early stages.
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s bid to retain their firepower next season after a successful 2022/2023 season by retaining key players like Ousmane Dembélé, who has held fresh talks with Barcelona over a contract extension.
Dembele’s current contract will end next summer, but after the 26-year-old overcame stubborn injury problems, the club are willing to offer a new three-year deal.
The winger scored five times and made seven assists in 25 La Liga games missing 17 games in all competitions in the 2022-23 campaign.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
