FC Barcelona: Xavi sticks by under fire summer signing

When you’re strapped for cash like FC Barcelona are at the moment, every single signing is put under intense scrutiny.

Some players arrive and instantly make an impact. Joao Felix is a prime example. Within the first week of his arrival on loan from Atlético de Madrid, we had analysts discussing a permanent signing. It’s still unclear if Barcelona can afford to bring Felix in on a permanent deal next summer, but everything indicates the Portuguese striker would welcome the move.

For other players, it takes some time. Especially if they arrive with an injury as Inigo Martinez did this summer, following a free transfer from this week’s opponents Athletic Club.

Martinez arrived this summer with a plantar fascia issue and missed the entire pre-season tour and the early part of the season.

He’s slowly been working his way back but even when he has played, some Barcelona fans have been critical of his production.

Xavi backs Inigo Martinez to make his mark at FC Barcelona

While some fans may be panicking, the Barcelona manager isn’t. Xavi confirmed that he personally signed off on the signing of Martinez and believes he will contribute a lot this season:

"” Iñigo will be important. It is a signing that I approved, I think he can contribute a lot to us. “It’s okay, we have seen it this week that he has not gone with the national team."

So far Martinez has made just one start and played 11% of the available minutes in La Liga and has yet to appear across the first two gameweeks of the Champions League.

With Jules Kounde set to miss time, Martinez could be in for a start this weekend against his former club, although he still has to displace Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen, who both appear to be higher on the depth chart this season.

It’s far too early to judge Martinez considering how little he’s played, it’s extremely harsh to consider the signing a failure considering he’s been working his way back from injury.

Hopefully playing his former club acts as motivation for Martinez to have his first defining moment as a Barcelona player.