Barcelona offered chance to sign Inter Milan defender after Inigo Martinez's Saudi Arabian exit

Barca have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Inter defender Benjamin Pavard following the sudden departure of Inigo Martinez to Saudi Arabia. The Catalan giants are short of depth in central defence and, while the transfer window remains open until September, names are being floated their way. Pavard, who was previously on Barca’s radar back in 2023, has re-emerged as a potential option after being put forward by his agent Pini Zahavi.

Camp Nou’s focus this summer has largely been on player registration and balancing finances rather than high-profile signings. The exits of Martinez and other squad players have left Flick’s side thinner than expected in defence, but the board are reluctant to commit to another costly first-team arrival. Pavard fits the kind of versatile profile Barca could use, a centre-back comfortable on the right who can also slot in at full-back, yet his wages and similarity to existing players like Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia make the deal highly complicated.

Pavard’s name has resurfaced largely due to his strong links with Flick. The French international worked under the current Barca coach during their time together at Bayern Munich, where he became a key part of Flick’s treble-winning squad. The defender himself is reportedly open to the move, having already rejected a lucrative contract from Saudi Arabia in favour of staying in Europe at the highest level. Zahavi, who also represents Robert Lewandowski and Flick, has actively pushed the player toward Barca, even holding meetings with president Joan Laporta.

With the squad effectively closed for the 2025-26 season, only a drastic change in circumstances would see Barca enter the market for Pavard. Flick would welcome the reinforcement, but Deco and the board lean towards promoting a young, left-footed centre-back through the reserve system instead of committing to an expensive first-team signing.