Forget Dalot, Barca have a Plan B at right-back

FT Desk

6 Nov 2022 08:15 CST
3 min read

Barcelona target Arnau Martinez playing for Girona. — © ProShots

Barcelona want Diogo Dalot to be their primary right-back at Camp Nou, but Manchester United have an option to extend his contract by another year this summer.

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Dalot is technically out of contract as of 30 June 2023, meaning he could discuss terms on a Bosman transfer with clubs outside of England from January.

But United have the option to extend his contract by a further season, one they are likely to take up with the Portuguese having become undisputed first choice at Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag.

READ: Man Utd's January transfer plans revealed

Barca are in the market for a right-back and a defensive midfielder, with the injury-prone Hector Bellerin just a stop-gap in the former position and long-time midfield metronome Sergio Busquets vacating the latter at the end of the season.

Watch out for Arnau Martinez - one of the best young talents in Spain 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/j5MDBkqBPA

— Freddie Dean (@FLDFootball) September 18, 2022

But if Barca can't sign Dalot, they have a Plan B up their sleeve in the shape of promising Girona defender Arnau Martinez, according to Catalan daily newspaper Ara.

"[Barcelona] plan to take advantage of the break in play during the World Cup to study market movements," they write. "As far as right-back is concerned, one of the names they are probing most seriously is Arnau Martinez."

READ: Messi and Barcelona camps meet for transfer talks

"[They] like his attacking play, competitive nature and his versatility - he can play full-back or in the middle - and for his defensive fundamentals, taking into account that he is only 19 years old."

How good is Martinez?

Martinez may be able to play centre-back, but he does his best work at the other end of the field, averaging three shot-creating actions per 90 minutes over the last year - no mean feat when playing for the unfancied Girona.

He had six assists as Michel's side were promoted to La Liga last season, and is capped up to under-21 level with Spain. Martinez is also on Luis Enrique's long-list to make the full squad at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.