€5m player on track to fulfill terms for automatic contract extension at Barcelona | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have had to start the 2024-25 season without some of their most important players. In the midfielder, they have been without Frenkie de Jong and Gavi, while Bernal, Dani Olmo, and Fermin Lopez were also got injured after playing a few games.

In the defense, the Catalans are missing Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen, leaving the center of the backline somewhat thin on options, as Kounde is also playing regularly as a right-back. In such circumstances, one player who has emerged as a leader of the defense from the center-back position is Iñigo Martínez.

The former Athletic Club defender has played in all seven games up to now, six in La Liga and another in the UEFA Champions League. He might rest for tonight’s game against Getafe, but as SPORT has noted, his high number of appearances can trigger one of the conditions for his automatic renewal with Barcelona.

With his current contract, Martínez will get his contract with Barcelona automatically renewed if he plays 60% of games for a minimum of 45 minutes. The defender has played six games for the full 90 minutes and got some rest only in the last game against Villarreal.

Barcelona normally play around 55 official matches in a season. Thus, Martínez’s renewal clause can be triggered if he plays for a minimum of 45 minutes in 30-35 matches. With the rate with which the €5m-rated defender is currently accumulating appearance, this figure does not look too difficult for him to reach.

The key to his good performances in this early phase of the season has been the good physical preparation he did during the pre-season. Last year, he was unable to undergo a normal pre-season because of injuries and also had to miss some games at the start of the campaign.

But this year, he has already impressed Flick with his quality and forcefulness in the defense, while he is also an important part of the dressing room, always available to help the youngsters.