Arnau Martinez, a target for Barcelona, is admittedly open to joining Real Madrid and will not rule out any possibilities when he leaves Girona.
In a recent interview, as quoted by 90min, Arnau Martinez revealed that he would be open to joining Real Madrid while leaving Girona. The 19-year-old Girona right-back is a top defensive target for Barcelona, who he is ready to rejoin.
Arnau Martinez spent his formative years at several clubs before graduating from the Girona academy. The teenage prodigy spent a few years at Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, where he was a popular figure. But the Spaniard has gone from strength to strength since his breakthrough in professional football.
The 19-year-old is enjoying a solid 2022/23 campaign, chipping in with two goals and one assist in 12 appearances. And Martinez’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs, including Barcelona and Real Madrid. The player has now spoken about the links with the two Spanish heavyweights.
Martinez first started by speaking about Javier Mascherano, who he drew comparisons with while at La Masia. The 19-year-old said, “I always liked him a lot. He was also versatile, he could play behind or as a midfielder. He was a leader. I personally prefer [playing] out wide. You can attack and cover more ground, which in the end is what everyone likes. Even so, I have no qualms about playing central.”
The Girona right-back then insisted he would be open to joining both Real Madrid and Barcelona in the future. He added, “I don’t close the door on anyone. What I want is to compete in the best way in the best team that I can, be it Real Madrid, Barcelona or another team.”
Martinez is a top defensive target for Barcelona, who will look to sign him next summer. With Hector Bellerin failing to make his mark and Sergi Roberto becoming a liability, Barcelona will need to invest in a right-back. And the 19-year-old is a viable option for the Blaugrana.
But with the Girona right-back being open to joining Real Madrid, the Catalan giants need to be decisive in their move. Real Madrid will look to sign a right-back next summer amid links with Malo Gusto, Sacha Boey, and others. It will be interesting to see if Arnau Martinez becomes a top target for Los Blancos.
