Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez has been a key player this season, featuring in 22 out of the team’s 23 matches.
He has started in 21 of these games, with his only rest coming during the 2-4 defeat to Osasuna.
Furthermore, despite the demanding schedule, Martinez has only been substituted three times, and even then, it was after 80 minutes or more had been played.
This has led to him racking up a total of 1,956 minutes so far, averaging an impressive 88 minutes per match.
Inigo Martinez has played the most
To put his playing time into perspective, only four players have featured in all of coach Hansi Flick’s 23 call-ups: Raphinha, Jules Kounde, Pedri, and Pau Cubarsi.
Martinez and Robert Lewandowski are the only two who have missed one match each, with Martinez leading the team in minutes played, having been on the pitch for 95% of the available playing time, or 2,070 minutes in total.
Inigo Martinez has played the most minutes for Barcelona. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)
The defender has formed a solid defensive partnership with Pau Cubarsi, and together they have been crucial in maintaining a high defensive line that forces opposing teams into offside positions.
His tactical intelligence and ability to organise the defence are invaluable to the team. Furthermore, his skill in bringing the ball out from the back, aided by his powerful left-footed passes, adds another dimension to Barcelona’s play.
Inigo Martinez needs rest
Given his importance to the team, the former Athletic Bilbao defender has become an undroppable figure in the current setup. However, Barcelona’s busy schedule is winding down, with only two more matches left before the year ends.
After weeks of intense fixtures, this provides a much-needed break. With Ronald Araujo now fit again, it may be an ideal time for Flick to give Martinez a much-needed rest.
The upcoming matches, against Leganes and then Atletico Madrid, might present an opportunity to rest him, though it seems unlikely that he will be rested for the first match.
This is because Araujo is expected to be slowly reintroduced to the team, so a break for Martinez could be more likely towards the end of the month.