KEY POINTS

  • Gerard Pique is into his 15th season at Barcelona
  • He has played over 600 games for Barcelona
  • Barcelona's home game Saturday will be Pique's final outing

FC Barcelona are reportedly preparing to sign Athletic Bilbo defender Inigo Martinez as Gerard Pique's replacement next summer.

Barcelona already have a deal with the Athletic Bilbo and Martinez is expected to join the Catalans for free in 2023 summer, Spanish outlet The SPORT reported.

The Camp Nou side may also decide to secure Martinez in January if Athletic Bilbo agree to sell him at a reasonable price, as per another Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo.

Martinez's current contract with Athletic Club is due to expire next summer. It is certain that instead of signing a new deal, the center-back has decided to move to Barcelona. The left-footed player is believed to be a fine fit in Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez's play.

Athletic Bilbao players celebrate after Inigo Martinez put them in front at San Mames
Athletic Bilbao players celebrate after Inigo Martinez put them in front at San Mames AFP / ANDER GILLENEA

This is not the first time Martinez is being linked with Barcelona. Xavi wanted to land him last summer itself, but Atletico refused a deal as they believed Barcelona weren't paying enough for the talented defender. If Barcelona won't make a January move, Martinez would leave Athletic Bilbao as a free agent at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

After being associated with the club for over two decades, Pique announced Thursday that he was leaving the club and Saturday's La Liga game at Camp Nou would be his final outing for the Catalans.

Pique broke the news in a video on social media, where he said, "I've always said that there would not be any other team after Barca and that's how it will be," which made it clear that the Spanish defender was bringing curtains down to his playing career. He retired from international soccer in 2018 after winning 102 caps for Spain and claimed the 2012 European Championship and 2010 World Cup.

Pique first joined Barcelona as a youth player before moving to Manchester United in 2004, where he made his senior debut. He won the Premier League and Champions League in 2007-08 before returning to the La Liga giants in 2008. Pique, who is in his 15th season with Barcelona, has played more than 600 games and won 30 trophies, including eight La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies, and seven Copa del Rey titles.