The renewal of Iñigo Martínez with FC Barcelona remains at a complete standstill. LaLiga determined that the club lacked the required salary margin, which meant that his new contract could not be registered and, therefore, no official announcement can be made.
Despite this setback, there is no doubt within the club regarding his future: Barcelona’s sporting management believes that Iñigo Martínez’s renewal is a done deal and that it is only a matter of time before it is finalized.
This situation has created a new obstacle in managing Barcelona’s Financial Fair Play—a common issue in recent transfer windows. Additionally, the uncertainty surrounding the team’s future and its financial constraints has raised concerns among both fans and the player, who is eager to continue playing for the club.
LaLiga on the renewal
Barcelona had been working on Iñigo Martínez’s renewal for weeks. The central defender—one of the key pillars of the defense when available, and with a clause allowing him to extend his contract with the club until 2026—had his agent contacted by Barcelona in January to formalize the deal. However, at the last minute, a message from LaLiga stated that he could not be registered due to insufficient salary margin, serving as a wake-up call for the board. This has led the club to explore alternative solutions to reduce its wage bill in order to register the player as soon as possible.
Differences with the Lewandowski case
Barcelona argues that Iñigo Martínez’s renewal should be valid, as it is provided for in his original contract. In contrast, LaLiga maintains that his situation differs from that of Robert Lewandowski, who signed a four-season contract that could be registered in full upon arrival—a condition not applicable to Martínez. This disagreement has generated tensions between both parties. The club insists that extending the central defender’s contract is not a new deal but simply the extension of an existing one. However, without a reduction in squad salaries, the entity governed by Javier Tebas stands by its position. The Lewandowski case set precedents where his registration was authorized under certain conditions, which now seem not to apply in the same way for Martínez. Such decisions have amplified the feeling that Barcelona is under comparatively stricter control than other clubs.
Barcelona is confident of a renewal in the summer
Despite the current challenges, Barcelona fans remain optimistic about Iñigo Martínez’s future. The sporting management is confident that by the time the summer market opens, the club will have enough flexibility to secure his renewal without any problems. To overcome this obstacle, the club plans to generate additional revenue—through player sales or contract adjustments—in order to adjust the wage bill and meet the necessary conditions for the renewal to be finalized without issues.
Iñigo Martínez has affirmed that he wishes to continue wearing the Barça shirt and is willing to wait until the summer for his renewal to take effect. Ultimately, the team’s situation and his seamless adaptation to Barcelona’s style of play remain two essential factors for his continued future at the club.