When Inigo Martinez signed for Barcelona in 2023, on a free transfer no less, culers could’ve been forgiven for thinking that he was just another stop-gap option as the Catalans continued to get to grips with La Liga’s stringent Financial Fair Play rules.

From a purely footballing perspective, Martinez will be a big loss, as he was such a unique piece in Flick’s Barcelona side; the only naturally left-footed centre-back, which, combined with his polished technique, made him a key asset in the build-up.