The renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Spanish defender Inigo Martinez will join Saudi Al-Nassr in a free transfer deal, even though his contract with Barcelona expires in 2026.

Inigo Martinez had a clause in his contract with Barcelona that allowed him to leave for free if he received an attractive offer from another club, which indeed happened with Al-Nassr's offer that met the player's financial and sporting conditions.

Romano explained that the news of Martinez's departure was shocking within the corridors of the Catalan club, especially since Martinez was considered one of the leaders of the team both on the field and in the dressing room, and he enjoyed the trust of the coaching staff.

Romano mentioned that Martinez will soon sign a one-year contract with an option to extend for an additional season.

The departure of the experienced Spanish defender represents a moral loss for the Catalan team, especially in terms of experience and leadership in the backline.