Barcelona could sell last summer’s signing due to potential registration issues
The past few summer transfer windows have been riddled with registration problems for Barcelona due to their economic situation and the issues with La Liga’s Financial Fair Play regulations.
Despite that, Joan Laporta & co. have found ways to get players onboard and improve the squad, with last summer seeing the arrivals of Joao Cancelo, Joao Felix, Ilkay Gundongan, Oriol Romeu, and Inigo Martinez.
However, one of the arrivals from the last summer window could be sacrificed this year if reports are to be believed.
Inigo Martinez could be sold due to registration issues
As per Marta Ramon of RAC1, Barcelona see the registration of Inigo Martinez as a problem for the upcoming summer window and as such the Spaniard could be sold by the club.
Barça signed Martínez last summer for free, with the defender signing a contract for two seasons on a salary that was not from the bottom rung of the dressing room.
But the defender was only registered for just one season with La Liga because they had no more room for manoeuvre.
At this stage, sources at the club admit that the centre-back’s future is not guaranteed despite having a second year of his contract signed.
Martinez has many chances of leaving because he has to be registered as if he were a new signing and making room for him will be complicated considering that it is difficult for Barça to return to the 1:1 rule for the summer.
Overload of central defenders
Another issue that could lead to Martinez’s exit is the overbooking of centre-backs in the current Barcelona squad.
Barça believe they have too many centre-backs on their payroll and none of them are on a low salary. Including the loanees Eric Garcia and Clement Lenglet, the club has six senior centre-halves, with La Masia talent Pau Cubarsi making the number seven.
As such, sales will be needed, and if someone like Ronald Araujo leaves, the situation could slightly improve. But the Uruguayan will not be sold, meaning the club must have to sacrifice other players, with Jules Kounde also being in the conversation.
With Cubarsi set to be renewed as well, Martinez’s future now hangs in the balance.
