Inigo Martinez has exploded back onto Barcelona’s radar with a shock push to return in the January transfer window, just six months after packing his bags for Al Nassr.
The 34-year-old centre-back believes his Saudi adventure has run its course and is now determined to wear the blaugrana shirt again in the decisive stretch of the season.
For a Barcelona side juggling La Liga and Champions League pressure while battling defensive inconsistency, the idea of recovering a left-footed leader who already knows the club, the dressing room, and Hansi Flick’s demands suddenly looks far more than just nostalgia.
According to Fichajes, Inigo Martinez has made his wish crystal clear: he wants a winter loan back to Barcelona and is even willing to extend his contract with Al Nassr so that a deal can be structured to suit all parties.
He has featured regularly in Saudi Arabia and even found the net, but the competitive edge and emotional pull of Camp Nou remain a powerful lure.
From Flick’s perspective, the operation ticks several boxes—experience at the highest level, familiarity with a high defensive line, and immediate tactical understanding without the adaptation period a new signing from abroad would require.
For the club’s sporting management, the option is as much about finances as football.
A simple loan for a player who already proved useful in a title-winning season would allow Barcelona to reinforce a key position without committing a major fee, preserving resources for younger long-term targets in other lines.
At a time when the squad lacks a natural left-footed centre-back and has suffered through injuries and instability, Martínez’s profile fits almost exactly what the coach has been asking for.
If Al Nassr opens the door for Inigo Martinez, his U-turn from Saudi Arabia back to Catalonia could become one of the most understated but decisive moves of the January window.
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