After Iñigo’s departure… Barcelona identifies its major defensive target for the summer of 2026

Barcelona’s defensive department has entered a period of transition, one that has come sooner than many expected. The recent and somewhat surprising departure of veteran centre-back Iñigo Martínez to the Saudi Pro League has shaken the team’s backline structure and forced the club’s management to accelerate plans that were initially intended for the distant future.

The sporting direction, spearheaded by Deco and strongly backed by president Joan Laporta, has been forced into a decisive moment. What was once a project sitting quietly in the background of the club’s strategic plans has now been pushed into the spotlight as a top priority. The shift in defensive strategy is no longer optional—it’s essential for Barcelona’s next era of dominance.

With Hansi Flick now steering the technical side of the project, Barcelona’s approach is clear: they are not merely looking for a short-term fix to cover Martínez’s absence. Instead, the goal is to construct a central defensive pairing that can serve as the foundation of the team for the next decade. This ambition marks the beginning of a new chapter, one defined by both stability and evolution.

Martínez’s departure did more than leave a gap on the team sheet—it served as a trigger for Barcelona to initiate their 2026 defensive blueprint. At the heart of this blueprint is the understanding that while Pau Cubarsí is a once-in-a-generation talent and the club’s defensive leader for the future, he still requires an experienced, world-class partner to help him grow and anchor the backline.

And according to multiple well-placed sources, that partner has already been identified. Barcelona’s dream signing is none other than Alessandro Bastoni, the Inter Milan and Italy international widely regarded as one of the best defenders in Europe today. Bastoni’s left-footed balance, composure under pressure, and ability to contribute to the build-up play make him an almost tailor-made fit for Barcelona’s philosophy.

Bastoni is not just a strong tackler and aerial presence—he also possesses exceptional passing range, the vision to break lines from deep, and the maturity to read the game at the highest level. His performances in the Champions League and Serie A have established him as one of the most complete defenders in modern football, capable of blending old-school defensive grit with modern tactical intelligence.

However, the path to securing Bastoni’s signature will be anything but simple. He remains a vital part of Inter’s long-term plans under coach Cristian Chivu, and his current contract runs until 2028. With a market valuation reportedly exceeding €70 million, Barcelona must navigate both Financial Fair Play restrictions and intense competition from other European giants who admire the Italian’s qualities.

Despite these challenges, optimism quietly exists within the corridors of Camp Nou. Bastoni himself has previously hinted at an openness to experiencing a new football culture outside Italy, and the idea of forming a long-term partnership with Cubarsí—within Flick’s evolving, possession-oriented system—could be the exact challenge to tempt him away from San Siro.

In the short term, Flick is expected to lean on Andreas Christensen to cover the gap left by Martínez. Christensen’s reliability and ball-playing ability make him a capable interim solution, but the club is well aware that he is not the long-term answer to their ambitions. The 2026 plan revolves entirely around Bastoni, and work has already begun behind the scenes to explore all possible avenues for securing the deal.

Barcelona’s vision is bold yet calculated: to create a central defensive duo of Cubarsí and Bastoni that can dominate Spanish and European football for years to come. This pairing would not only offer immediate solidity but also ensure the club’s defensive stability well into the next decade, echoing the glory days when Gerard Piqué and Carles Puyol patrolled the backline with authority.

Iñigo Martínez’s departure may have closed one chapter, but in the grand scheme of Barcelona’s long-term vision, it has opened the door to an even more ambitious and exciting era. The hunt for Bastoni is more than a transfer pursuit—it’s a statement of intent that Barcelona remains committed to competing at the very top, both now and in the future.