Inter have set their sights on Inigo Martinez, whose contract runs out in June and appears ready to move on from a long stint at Athletic. The Nerazzurri face the daunting task of having to substitute Milan Skriniar without being able to spend that much.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 31-year-old would be a good fit for their scheme. Despite being left-footed, he has routinely played on the right-hand side of a three-man defense. Therefore, he’d be able to fill in for the Slovak and also star in the other two positions.
Per Mundo Deportivo (via Sportitalia), Barcelona have long led the race to land Martinez, but they have been hampered by their usual economic problems lately, and Inter and Napoli are attempting to exploit the window of opportunity.
The veteran has spent the last six seasons with Athletic after a few years with their rivals Real Sociedad. He has amassed 173 appearances with his current club, scoring 8 goals and providing 7 assists. He has been a regular in the Spain squad, recording 19 total caps.
Our Take on Inter and Martinez
Giuseppe Marotta can never be counted out when it comes to free-agent acquisitions, as that’s how he pulled off the biggest coups of his career. The lure of Barcelona is probably too hard to resist for a Spaniard. However, if it gets too messy or there are delays, La Beneamata will become a solid contender for his services. They’ll probably sign a cheap but reliable veteran and spend a little for a youngster in the back.
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