Martínez closes in on Barca move

Martínez is keen on the move to the Camp Nou.

Catalan giants Barcelona could be set to make their first signing with the money received from Neymar’s sale, with the club believed to be closing in on a deal to sign Íñigo Martínez from Real Sociedad.

Ernesto Valverde’s side are said to be ready to pay the player’s €32m release clause, with Spanish publication ‘Sport’ today claiming that there is now an agreement in place between the club and the player over personal terms.

Barca no longer need to spend days and weeks negotiating over small sums given that they now have cash on the hip, whilst the fact that the player has a release clause means that his current employers cannot take advantage of Barca’s new-found financial situation.

€32 million seemed a prohibitive figure just weeks ago but it will barely touch the sides of the €222m that Barca now have to spend following Neymar’s departure.

Martínez has made 193 La Liga appearances for Sociedad but it appears that his time in the Basque Country may be over.

The player has been linked with both Real Madrid and Barcelona for some time and it will be interesting to see how he gets on should he make the move, given the increased scrutiny he would be under at the Camp Nou.

Sporting Tribune