Aston Villa linked Inigo Martinez has confirmed his departure from Athletic Bilbao but Barcelona remain favourites to sign the Spain international ahead of the Premier League outfit.
You certainly cannot fault their ambition.
But, for all their financial muscle and their lofty plans, the start of the transfer window may have had a bit of a humbling effect on Aston Villa. A reminder that, despite all the progress made under Unai Emery’s stewardship, they are still not dining out on the very top table.
Aston Villa like Marco Asensio and Manuel Ugarte. But both players are now on their way to Paris Saint-Germain from Real Madrid and Sporting Lisbon respectively. Ferran Torres would prefer to stay and fight for his place at the Camp Nou.
And after Spanish publication El Desmarque reported that Emery was keen to work with the experienced Inigo Martinez at Villa Park, it seems that all roads lead to Catalonia instead for the classy centre-half.
Aston Villa target Inigo Martinez bound for Barcelona
“Hello everyone. You know that I have always left absolutely everything I have on the pitch for this badge. For my teammates, and for you,” Martinez says in his goodbye video to the Athletic Bilbao supporters.
“It’s not easy to leave my home, my roots and those of my family. It has been a pleasure to defend this badge.
“The time has come to focus on a new sporting challenge.”
Martinez joined Athletic in a £28 million deal from local rivals Real Sociedad back in 2018. A long-time Barcelona target, his supposedly imminent switch to the Camp Nou will represent the 32-year-old’s first ever move away from his Basque country home.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, are now turning their attention to another left-footed, Spain international centre-half in Pau Torres; reports saying that a formal ‘offer’ has now arrived at Villarreal from the Midlands.
Torres was a key part of the Villarreal side who reached the Champions League semi-finals under Emery in 2021. The Villa boss’ relationship with the one-time Tottenham target should, in theory, give the claret-and-blues an advantage over their rival suitors.
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