Just a while back, reports emerged claiming that Barcelona could be without key defender Inigo Martinez on Saturday against Las Palmas due to muscle discomfort.
It was suggested that the 33-year-old veteran discomfort was dealing with some issue in his leg and would be unlikely to be fully fit in time for Saturday’s clash.
Furthermore, with a double-header coming up against Mallorca and Real Betis next week, it was suggested that Hansi Flick would not take any risks with the defensive mainstay.
Martinez OK, will start
However, in a fresh update, journalist Javi Miguel reports that despite the claims of Martinez dealing with muscle discomfort, he will be in the starting XI when Barcelona take on Las Palmas on Saturday afternoon.
The discomfort that the veteran centre-back is carrying is considered ‘normal’ and ‘irrelevant’, and as such, it will not stop him from taking the field against Las Palmas.
Inigo Martinez Barcelona
Expected to start vs Las Palmas. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)
Martinez has pretty much been a permanent fixture in the defensive line for Barça this season, forging an excellent partnership with Pau Cubarsi.
The pair have performed so well that the Blaugrana have not felt the absence of captain and key defender Ronald Araujo much at all.
Martinez has been key to that level of performance, with Hansi Flick managing to get the best out of him after a stop-start debut campaign under Xavi Hernandez due to fitness problems.
More clarity about his situation should emerge when the manager speaks to the media in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
For now, though, contradicting reports are doing the rounds with one suggesting Martinez is a doubt while the other claims that he will be fit and in the starting lineup.