Coach Hansi Flick was deeply shocked when the defender announced his departure from Barca

Defender Inigo Martinez spoke out for the first time about his unexpected decision to leave Barcelona and join Al-Nassr during this summer transfer window.

Inigo revealed that he informed the decision to leave during Barcelona's Asian tour. Surprisingly, he chose a sensitive moment, having a private conversation with Coach Hansi Flick near the emergency exit on the plane.

“I had a talk with Hansi. When he heard the news, he was genuinely shocked,” Inigo shared. “I told Hansi I received an offer that was hard to refuse. Things happened very quickly, and I had to make a decision in a short time.”

The 34-year-old defender also expressed gratitude to Barcelona for facilitating his exit: “I thanked the club for making it easier for me to leave. Not every team would do that.”

According to Spanish sources, Al-Nassr offered an extremely attractive contract with a salary many times higher than what Inigo earned at Camp Nou. At 34, the Basque player believes this is the perfect time to move to a new environment, ensuring financial security while testing himself in a rapidly growing league.

Inigo admitted that last season was the best of his career, but maintaining that top form at Barcelona for another year would be very difficult:

“Last season was the peak of my career. But I feel it would be very hard to keep the same level for another year. I think it’s time for a change.”

Inigo’s decision to leave has put Barcelona in a difficult position as their defense faces a serious crisis. In the opening rounds of La Liga 2025/26, the Catalan club repeatedly dropped points due to defensive errors, while the newcomer replacing Inigo Martinez has yet to meet expectations.

Coach Hansi Flick now has to rotate between Kounde, Christensen, Pau Cubarsi, and Eric Garcia, but the defensive system remains unstable. Inigo’s departure not only cost Barcelona an experienced center-back but also deprived them of a leadership voice in the dressing room.

Inigo’s exit also pushes Barcelona into the race for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, who is also targeted by Liverpool and Real Madrid. Barca’s defense lacks depth, and the club views Guehi as a top priority for the January 2026 transfer window.

If they fail to find a quality replacement, Barcelona is likely to struggle in this season’s La Liga and Champions League campaigns.