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Iñigo Martínez in a match with Athletic Bilbao

THE BASQUE HAS BEEN VITAL FOR ATHLETIC

The data of Athletic without Iñigo Martínez that should excite FC Barcelona

Published:14/05/2023 - 17:08h

Updated:14/05/2023 - 17:08h

In San Mamés they will be without their best defender on June 30 and Barça can be convinced that the operation will give them the possibility to continue improving their defense even more.

Calendar of FC Barcelona

The FC Barcelona has all closed for fichar to Iñigo Martínez, the one who will go out free of the Athletic Club the next 1 July after winning his agreement with the entity of Saint Mamés. Except some unexpected problem with the 'fair play' financial of LaLiga that prevent the registration of the central, the team culé will reinforce his already big defence with a footballer that this season has left to see his importance inside the Basque club.

The course of the defender has been marked by the physical problems, something very little frequent during his career, but this situation has reflected his enormous importance inside the Athletic. The lions have lost during big part of the season to his best head office, and one of his best players, remaining without winning in his last four parties, in which Iñigo has not been available.

A big sample of his importance

The international Spanish has lost the last crashes of the Basque by one overloads in the triceps of his right leg and this Saturday, in front of the Villarreal, went back to evidenciarse his absence with a goleada against of 5-1 in front of the yellow team. Although it has been far of his best version by the long absence in the beginning of the 2023, Iñigo Martínez has showed one and again his big defensive level, and without him the team of Ernesto Valverde has seen surpassed in several opportunities.

In fact, 'Sport' explains that the Athletic only has won 5 of the 18 commitments in which the defender of 31 years has not played by injury or technical decision (27,7%). It has lost exactly the half of these meetings (nine), empatando the others four parties. By the contrary, the percentage of triumphs increases when Iñigo is on the lawn, registering eight victories (53,3%), three ties (20%) and four defeats (26,6%) in 15 duels.

Several problems of which the Barça is to the so much

The absence of the defender in almost 20 meetings this season has been consequence to having begun the course with problems in the knee, for afterwards be drop during more than two months by a fascitis plant and in the last weeks has arrived him the mentioned overloads muscular. The Barça has followed very closely all these problems and is convinced that the Basque will be equally a big incorporation, giving him an agreement of two seasons.