Barcelona director meets defender’s agent to express satisfaction with his performances | OneFootball

Barcelona’s sporting director Deco is on a renewal spree and is currently working hard to complete the contract renewals of Pedri, Gavi, Ronald Araujo and Lamine Yamal amongst others.

Youngsters aside, another prominent name he is reportedly negotiating with is the team’s star defender Inigo Martinez who has led the department from the front under Hansi Flick.

As revealed by SPORT, Deco met with the veteran’s agent last Saturday to transit satisfaction with the player’s performance and put forward talks of a renewal.

A clause in place

The report highlights a special clause on Martinez’s contract with Barcelona that runs out next June.

While the player is indeed in the final months of his current contract, the clause on his deal states that he will receive an automatic one-year extension if he plays at least 60% of Barcelona’s games with at least 45 minutes per fixture.

Thriving. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

So far, he has played 16 games for Barcelona this season, starting on all occasions and has seen over 45 minutes in every case.

In the scenario that Barça play the maximum amount of games this season (61), he will have to play 37 games for the team for the automatic clause to be triggered.

As things stand, the probability appears high given his level and how he has cemented himself as a regular in the starting lineup.

Deco’s meeting with his agent only serves as a testament that the club are happy with his level and consistency and that he will retain his position if he can stay fit and at the top of his game.

After all, even Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen’s returns, at this point, will not threaten his place in Flick’s plans and the duo will have to fight their way back into the dynamics.