Inigo Martinez

[BlueAnorak]

Laporte hasn’t exactly been injury free in recent years

This is true. But Martinez's record this season is as good as Vincents this season.

 

[Blue Bogey]

Indigo Martinez is now a target for Athletic Bilbao to replace the departing Laporte.

 

[City_Sean]

Laporte hasn’t exactly been injury free in recent years

He’s had a broken ankle, it’s hardly like he’s an injury prone player who’s suffered a repeat amount of groin/hamsing strains.

 

[KCblue]

No idea how intense things are in the Basque country, but would it be likely for a player to switch from Sociedad to Bilbao? I suppose it would all rely on Martinez as he has a release clause, but that creates a lot of pressure on him to make a decision.

 

[MillionDollarDream]

No idea how intense things are in the Basque country, but would it be likely for a player to switch from Sociedad to Bilbao? I suppose it would all rely on Martinez as he has a release clause, but that creates a lot of pressure on him to make a decision.

In my opinion, scanning social media the response from Athletic fans makes this possible transfer look like their version of JFE. They would rather go with academy players and the CBs that played today Yeray and Unai Nunez.

 

[aguero93:20]

No idea how intense things are in the Basque country, but would it be likely for a player to switch from Sociedad to Bilbao? I suppose it would all rely on Martinez as he has a release clause, but that creates a lot of pressure on him to make a decision.

In my opinion, scanning social media the response from Athletic fans makes this possible transfer look like their version of JFE. They would rather go with academy players and the CBs that played today Yeray and Unai Nunez.

Athletic are Basque nationalist and a lot of their fans (nowhere near all) would be separatist. Real Sociedad are (as you can tell by the name) the crown chartered club and lean more towards loyalism and Spain/Spanish nationality. It's not a rivalry at Roma/Lazio or Rangers/Celtic levels but if he makes the move he should probably start looking for a house in Bilbao straight away. Especially with the political climate over there heating up again.

 

[OhSoGroovy]

Going to Athletic to replace Laporte looks like

 

[KCblue]

Going to Athletic to replace Laporte looks like

Yep:



Paid his €32m release clause.

 

[OhSoGroovy]

Yep:



Paid his €32m release clause.

Damn, good on them. But that is the equivalent of a player going from Madrid to Barca, or vice-versa. The derby will be crazy

 

[CityForever45]

Rumors also they want Merino from Newcastle, would be a nice addition , don’t know why Benitez dropped him, he looked good when he played