At the tail end of a La Liga season that is coming to a close, Athletic Bilbao's stalwart defender Inigo Martinez, a 32-year-old 1.81-meter Spanish star, is standing at a crossroads in his career, preparing to say goodbye to the stadium he loves so much. From Real Sociedad to Athletic Bilbao, Inigo Martinez has illustrated the legacy of soccer with his loyalty and strength. Since his transfer at the end of January 2018, he has been an integral part of the team in 173 games in the red and white, scoring 8 goals and assisting 7 times. However, at the national team level, Martinez has shown his value as well, appearing in 19 games for the Spanish national team and becoming the team's starting center back. With Serie A giants Inter Milan setting their sights on the free agent, they are looking at Martinez not only for his solidity on the defensive end, but also for his versatility in the backline, being able to flexibly adapt to left, center and right positions. Meanwhile, La Liga giants Barcelona have also joined the fray, eyeing Inigo Martinez's wealth of playing experience and outstanding athleticism. However, financial pressure could be a stumbling block for Barcelona to sign the Spanish center back. With Slovakian center-back Škriniar on the verge of leaving on a free, Inter Milan are in dire need of reinforcement at center-back, and Napoli are waiting for the opportunity to capitalize on the signing of the powerful center-back. Inigo Martinez will be a key piece in this reorganization of the soccer landscape.
